Scooters And One Wheels

On the Highway: Kelowna Displays on the Way forward for E-Scooters – Kelowna Information

Madison Erhardt

While the city of Kelowna is exploring the pros and cons of e-scooters just six weeks after a three-year pilot project, Toronto City Council unanimously voted last month to get them off the streets there.

Toronto has pulled out of Ontario’s e-scooter pilot program for safety reasons – similar to a program running in a handful of BC cities. The move banned e-scooters from public roads, sidewalks, and public spaces, following the example of several other major cities around the world in recent years.

“When reviewing hospital studies from cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, Austin, Paris and Tel Aviv, as well as cities in Australia and New Zealand, in consultation with Toronto Public Health, it was found that passing the e-scooter pilot would contribute to potentially serious problems Prevent injuries on Toronto’s streets and sidewalks while the city’s hospitals and resources are already strained and overloaded in response to COVID-19, “the City of Toronto said in a press release.

Toronto and Chicago, New York, Amsterdam, Boston, Edinburgh, Honolulu, Philadelphia and Sydney prohibit the use of e-scooters. Other cities, such as Calgary, have tried to counter abuse of the scooter with increased penalties.

The problem broke out in Kelowna after Dr. Stephen Krywulak, the head of orthopedic surgery at KGH, had described e-scooters as “breaking machines” on the local streets.

Castanet has received numerous photos and videos describing near-misses involving vehicles, pedestrians, other cyclists and e-scooters. Kelowna City Council has requested a review of the profitability of the e-scooter pilot and their options to terminate the program if they choose to. This report is due in about two weeks.

Castanet walked the streets of Kelowna to hear local opinions about the program.

“They’re pretty good fun. I like to use them, but they’re a bit hectic on the streets. I’ve seen some accidents and people get knocked over when they haven’t ridden them. So it’s good and bad. I think they are should stick with it with a little more regulations, “said a local resident.

Have an opinion? Send it to [email protected]

Related Articles