Kelowna’s e-scooter saga will soon have another chapter.
Following the success of the DropBike in 2018, Kelowna launched a controversial e-scooter program the following year.
The program has been criticized by city councils because of concerns about the safety and practicality of e-scooters.
A major factor in the failure of the program was a provincial law that bans vehicles on public roads and thus restricts e-scooters to selected routes in the city.
Earlier this month, however, the British Columbia government announced that Kelowna, along with five other municipalities, had been selected for the electric kick scooter pilot project, which will allow participating municipalities to enact statutes that allow electric scooters to operate on public Roads allowed.
The pilot project will allow e-scooters on public roads for the next three years, but only if the Kelowna City Council also approves the new statutes on Monday.
If approved, Kelowna’s e-scooter program will also see some changes, with a push to encourage helmet use and driving etiquette.
The council meeting on Monday could result in e-scooters rolling on local streets as early as April 19.
Support local journalism by clicking here to make a one-time contribution or sign up for a small monthly fee. We appreciate your consideration and every contribution you can make.
