Paradise council decides to steer clear of scooter bylaw

By Mark Squibb

Although some councillors say they are concerned about the reckless use of scooters and e-bikes around Paradise, they’re not yet ready to regulate them.
Councillor Erin Furlong broached the subject last month during a committee of the whole meeting, noting several residents had brought concerns to her.
Furlong asked what authority the Town has to regulate the machines.
Councillor Glen Carew explained that under the Towns and Local Services Districts Act, the Town can adopt by-laws to manage its roadways. The challenge, he said, is with enforcement.
“The world is changing rapidly, in terms of these machines, how they’re governed, or in this particular case, the lack of governance,” said Carew, adding council has talked with the police about it.
The Act, said Carew, does prohibit the use of vehicles on sidewalks.
Furlong asked whether the Town has had legal advice on how a by-law could be enforced without conflicting with the provincial Highway Act, and what risk Paradise would run by adopting a by-law before the Province adopts its changes.
Carew said staff have yet to seek an opinion on the matter. Toronto has a by-law, he said, but enforcement is impossible.
“You even see some of these rental companies have e-scooters for rent right on the sidewalks there in downtown Toronto,” said Carew, arguing it’s the responsibility of the province to give municipalities the power to enforce such regulations.
The problem facing lawmakers and police, he added, is that technology is advancing so rapidly that classifying e-bikes and e-scooters could prove difficult. Some e-bikes can reach speeds of up to 80 kph.
“It’s like the wild west in regards to what is permitted and what is not permitted,” said Carew, who said he hears more complaints about e-bikes and e-scooters than ATVs and dirtbikes.
Deputy Mayor Kimberley Street expressed support for a by-law, but allowed enforcement must start at home.
“We have to teach our kids that they have to be safe, and they have to wear their equipment,” said Street, who expressed hope the Town will host a safety session. “I think everybody here in this room has had an experience or seen a close call.”
Furlong suggested the Town enact a by-law now as opposed to waiting for the Province to amend the Highway Act.
“Right now, you can get on an e-bike or an e-scooter at any age and go any speed you want through a school zone, or a trail,” said Furlong. “In the campground where I camp all summer long, no vehicle is allowed to go over 15 kilometres an hour, because there are so many kids and so many people and so many things going on. And that’s someone with a licence to drive a vehicle. But an eight-year-old or a 10-year-old can get on a scooter and go 30 kilometres an hour. And that’s concerning to me, because they’re young, and they may not understand the consequences to it. I was speaking to a health professional recently who had dealt with someone with a severe injury from a scooter, and a bike helmet will not suffice, if you’re going 30 kilometres or more on a scooter or an e-bike. A bicycle helmet is just not sufficient.”