Skip to content

E-scooter company has eye on Lacombe County subdivision

Roll Scooters is about to start operating in City of Lacombe
29556725_web1_210623-RDA-E-scooters
Roll Scooters, a Toronto-based E-scooter company, would like to add Lacombe County’s Rosedale Valley subdivision to potential destinations. (Photo courtesy of Roll Scooters)

An e-scooter company about to launch in Lacombe is hoping riders can roll into a Lacombe County subdivision as well.

Roll Technologies Inc. was recently given approval by city council to make its e-scooters available in a two-year exclusive pilot project.

The company, which often goes by Roll Scooters, is expected to have its e-scooters available in Lacombe next month.

Company co-founder and chief commercial officer Arda Erturk told county council on Thursday he would like permission to add Rosedale Valley subdivision to potential e-scooter destinations. The county subdivision is located just northeast of the city near Burman University.

If that works out, e-scooters might also expand to other areas of the county. Software called geo-fencing is used by Roll to ensure e-scooter riders observe slow-speed, no-ride and no-parking zones.

For many, e-scooters provide a safe alternative to driving to destinations, said Erturk. A company survey found one-in-three e-scooter trips in Calgary replaced a vehicle trip.

Roll also operates in Ottawa, Kelowna, Red Deer, St. Albert and Cochrane.

E-scooters proved popular after being introduced in Red Deer last year with more than 109,00 rides logged. Roll and four other companies are offering scooters this year in the second year of a two-year pilot project.

Lacombe’s scooters can go no faster than 20 km/h and are allowed on paved trails, empty sidewalks and roadways with a speed limit of 50 km/h or lower. Scooters are not allowed on highways and riders must be at least 16.

A Roll app connects riders to e-scooters through a downloaded QR code. Riders can go and park anywhere in the designated areas. The company is working with the city to determine slow-speed, no-ride and no-parking zones.

Lacombe County council referred Erturk’s request to administration and it will bring back a report with recommendations for a future meeting.

There are some questions to be answered, including the question of paring, said county manager Tim Timmons.

E-scooters are often left in parks or sidewalks when the riders are finished with them. However, Rosedale Valley has no sidewalks or parks, raising the question of whether they will end up on people’s property. Narrow roads in the subdivision could also make safety an issue.



News tips

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter