Barrie Police are reminding everyone that e-scooters can’t be legally used on public property within the city, and they will start enforcing this rule.
Traffic Unit Det. Const. Ron Hunt spoke about the situation in a video shared by Barrie Police, noting that there’s some confusion regarding where e-scooters can be ridden legally.
“In the City of Barrie, they are currently illegal to be used on roadways, sidewalks, city-owned property, parks, or trails,” Hunt said.
He mentioned that the only place you can ride an e-scooter in Barrie is on private property, as long as there’s no sign saying otherwise.
There is a limited exception for an authorized e-scooter rental program at Centennial Park. Those e-scooters can only be used in the central waterfront area and have specific rules, including a minimum age of 16. Riders also need to follow all relevant regulations while using them.
Hunt pointed out that Ontario has rules allowing municipalities to approve e-scooters through a provincial pilot program, but Barrie has not signed up for it.
“So there’s no bylaw covering the use of these, so they are illegal to be used in areas that I mentioned,” he stated.
Hunt added that officers will start taking enforcement action under the Highway Traffic Act and Ontario regulations.
“It is highly recommended that you look up your local bylaws in any municipality that you’re going to with regard to what is required and the restrictions with regard to e-scooters,” he said.
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Ontario launched a five-year pilot program in January 2020 allowing municipalities to permit e-scooters through a bylaw, subject to provincial operating requirements.
The pilot was extended in 2024 and now runs until 2029.
Under the pilot program, e-scooters can go up to 24 kilometres per hour and must have lights, brakes, and a bell. They can’t weigh more than 45 kilograms.
Riders need to be at least 16 years old. Those under 18 must wear helmets; passengers aren’t allowed, and riding on sidewalks isn’t permitted either.
However, municipalities need to opt-in through their own bylaws for this regulation.
Between July 28 and Sept. 1, 2025, the City of Barrie conducted a survey about e-scooters which received around 1,200 responses.
Of those responses, 51.3 percent supported allowing personal e-scooters in Barrie while 42.1 percent were against it and 6.6 percent weren’t sure.
Respondents were also asked where personal e-scooters should be allowed if permitted:
836 said bike lanes 510 said city streets 444 said multi-use trails 258 said none of those locations 92 selected another option.
At the same time, over half (60.5 percent) of respondents expressed concerns about allowing e-scooters in Barrie. Another 34.90 percent didn’t have concerns while about 4.6 percent were unsure.
The biggest worries identified were non-compliance with regulations like riding in unauthorized areas or without proper safety gear (39.5 percent), followed closely by pedestrian safety concerns (32 percent).
In a memo addressed to city council on Dec. 10, 2025, city staff gave an update regarding the provincial pilot program along with insights into how e-scooter usage looks in Barrie based on survey results.
Staff noted there hasn’t been enough data collected by the Ministry of Transportation yet to fully grasp risks tied with broader use of e-s scooters or establish best practices for managing safety or liability issues; it’s still unclear if current infrastructure meets necessary regulatory needs too.
The memo indicated demand exists for using these vehicles but uncertainties remain unresolved at this point.”
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