Red Deer’s e-scooter program could be here to stay.
After a two-year, three-season pilot, administration is recommend making the e-scooter program a permanent addition to the city recreational options. This will be discussed at Monday’s city council meeting.
A report to council states public feedback about the e-scooter program has been largely positive, with people saying it was a fun, affordable and eco-friendly way to travel around the city, and connect to the downtown and parks and trails.
The two companies that have operated e-scooters last season are interested in returning to Red Deer again this when the season opens on March 15.
The e-scooter program was also found to align with the city’s multi-modal transportation plan; supports new business initiatives and promotes community health, well-being, connection and engagement.
The report to council shows ridership rose from season one (109,245 riders) to season two (139,603 riders), and then fell back to 100,909 riders in season 3. Most riders travelled between 3.16 and 3.5 km and rode from 18.2 to 25 minutes.
Complaints about drivers’ etiquette and lack of enforcement have gone down over the three years from a total of 1,292 in the first season to 997 in the second, to 864 last season.
Most concerns were about the speed of e-scooters, the need to share the trails, haphazard parking, driving under the influence, multiple riders, under-age users and cost. Some bylaw amendments have been proposed to address these issues.
Injuries (all of a minor nature) have also gone down to seven in the last season, compared to 12 each in the first two seasons.
According to a public engagement survey the city conducted with 433 participants, 65 per cent felt the permitted age of 16 for ridership was appropriate, compared to about 14 per cent who disagreed and about 21 per cent who weren’t sure or didn’t know.
Forty percent of respondents had no concerns about e-scooters while nearly 15 per cent were worried about sidewalk etiquette.
Just over eight per cent were concerned about safety for riders, while just over seven per cent each were worried about lack of enforcement and parking. Just over six per cent were concerned about roadway etiquette, and nearly five per cent about safety for other people.
Council was urged in the report to continue lobbying the province about better rules for increasingly popular private e-scooters. They are technically not allowed off private property, but are often used on city sidewalks and trails. They have no speed restrictions or any onus to follow bylaw regulations so are a challenge for the city’s enforcement staff, states the report.