LAC LA BICHE - A Lac La Biche County councillor wants to make sure that his community is rolling in the right direction when it comes to the rules around motorized scooters.
"There are people riding E-scooters in the middle of the highway, criss-crossing the roads ... Summer is coming and E-scooters are more and more popular. Do we need to make a bylaw ... before something goes wrong?"
Councillor John Mondal has been watching some scooter riders putting themselves and motorists in danger. He sees riders with no helmets, and some with no regard for motorists, pedestrians or rules. He's also seen older riders on the scooters at night-time with no lights.
"In Edmonton and Calgary, they have rules in place for safety, helmets and allowing them only in some areas," he said.
Peace officers watching
Lac La Biche County's Manager of Protective Services Chris Clark said there are local rules for motorized scooters and other similar forms of travel. Saying Mondal's concern was a good chance to bring awareness to the issue, he pointed to specific section of the Lac La Biche County Traffic Bylaw that addresses skateboards, roller-blades, roller skates, bicycles, motorized and non-motorized scooters, "pocket bikes" and mini-bikes.
Clark says the bylaw says motorized vehicles like scooters should be on the roadways and not on sidewalks or trails. Riders under the age of 18 must also be wearing a helmet. The bylaw also states that only bicycle riders under the age of 12 can ride on sidewalks. The section in the bylaw has several provisions, which Clark says is good information for all community members.
He said municipal peace officers do monitor scooter and bike riders, and "as long as they are riding respectfully" the officers don't interact. He also said officers will take steps if they see reckless or unsafe behaviour.
With more youngsters, bikes and scooters on the roads as the temperatures climb, Mondal appreciated the information.
The councillor's concerns were brought up at the recent Lac La Biche County council meeting. Councillor Lorin Tkachuk left the meeting for the discussion as he has a side-business that rents out e-scooters in the community. E-scooters were rented out from the kiosk near the McArthur Park beach over last summer. It is not known if the service will continue this year.
