The City of Pickering is kicking off a Shared E‑Scooter Pilot Program, giving residents a green, convenient, and low-carbon way to get around the expanding community.
<p E-scooter initiatives have had a bit of a rocky road in Ontario but have also seen plenty of success and popularity, particularly among students and young adults.
This program aligns with Pickering’s long-term transportation goals by encouraging flexible mobility options.
E‑scooters provide an affordable choice for short trips and first-/last-mile connections. Following best practices from cities like Ottawa and Vancouver, the pilot emphasizes education, rider safety, and responsible road-sharing.
“Pickering’s Shared E-Scooter Pilot is an important step toward expanding mobility options for our residents,” said Mayor Kevin Ashe. “As a true pilot, we’re committed to listening – gathering feedback, reviewing ridership data, and evaluating every aspect of the program, including the promotion and adherence to safe and responsible use before considering next steps.”
These shared e-scooters are owned by a company – in this case, Bird Canada – which can be rented for a fee based on time or distance. They are usually picked up and returned at designated spots throughout the city while the company takes care of charging, maintenance, and redistributing them. The city’s partner in running the pilot promotes clean transportation choices that don’t rely on cars.
During the pilot program, both the city and Bird will enforce safety measures such as speed limits, minimum rider age (16+), helmet requirements for younger riders, along with mandatory equipment like lights and bells or horns.
Respectful road-sharing to ensure safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and e‑scooter users will be encouraged. The program aims for fair access so that micro-mobility options are available across all neighborhoods.
The pilot program will run from April through October (weather permitting) with service hours from 6 a. m. to 11 p. m., featuring remote deactivation at 10:45 pm.
Unlike privately-owned e-scooters, these shared ones won’t function if taken outside of city limits or exceed set speed limits.
Residents can report after-hours issues like mis-parked scooters or safety concerns through the operator’s hotline or in-app tools as well as through the city’s Customer Care team.
To celebrate the launch of this pilot program, Bird will have their Safe Streets Ambassadors present at various parking locations to educate riders about key information regarding the program.
Ride-sharing e-scooters and e-bikes made their return to Oshawa on August 5 as part of an ongoing shared e-mobility project that was put on hold at the end of last season.
The decision to reinstate this popular initiative followed considerable debate within city council; it had gained traction since its introduction in 2023 but not without its share of controversy. A tragic incident occurred just three weeks after launch when 20-year-old scooter user Kaitlyn Pollack was struck by a truck near a gas station entrance in the north part of town on May 17.
A 62-year-old woman died following an accident between an electric scooter and another vehicle in Hamilton earlier this month; there was also another fatality involving an e-scooter rider crossing a highway ramp in Pickering back in July.
For more details about Pickering’s e-scooter pilot program or to address any questions or concerns visit pickering. ca/e Scooter.
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