Red Deer has the second-highest rate of female ridership for e-scooters across Canada, according to a company’s report.

Neuron Mobility recently released a report on the e-scooter gender gap, which shows 40 per cent of Canadian riders identify as female, 57 per cent as male and 3 per cent as other.

In Red Deer, 46 per cent of e-scooter riders are women, which is second to only Vernon B.C.’s 47 per cent. Lethbridge is tied with Red Deer at 46 per cent.

While early adoption of e-scooters was led by younger men, Neuron’s study of 10,000 riders globally confirms that the e-scooter gender gap is closing.

“It’s clear more Canadian women than ever before are embracing e-scooters as a great way to travel,” said Ankush Karwal, head of market for Canada at Neuron Mobility.

“While Canada’s gender gap is one of the smallest compared to other countries, we still look forward to closing that gap further. The research will help us as well as policymakers, city planners and municipal transportation departments create more inclusive and safer e-scooter programs for all.”

Female e-scooter riders in Canada are, on average, younger than male riders – 62 per cent of female riders are between 18 and 34 years old.

The Neuron study suggests women tend to prioritize safety features, such as the “follow my ride” function, while men are more interested in speed and handling.

Twenty per cent of all e-scooter rides happen between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The City of Red Deer is currently in the third and final season of its Shared Electric Scooter Pilot Program. City council approved the implementation of the three-season project in 2021.

Neuron Mobility and Bird Canada are the two e-scooter companies participating in the project.

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