E-scooters

Council approved the same two providers selected in 2022, Bird Canada and Neuron Mobility  to operate shared e-scooters in Ottawa for the 2023 e-scooter season.  

The 2023 season begins the week of May 15 and is approved to operate until November 15 (weather permitting). The total maximum combined fleet size is 900 e-scooters (same as 2022, reduced from 1,200 in 2021).  

The 2023 program will continue to focus on reducing sidewalk riding and improper parking. This year will also focus on working with the shared e-scooter providers to develop a uniform sound emission to ensure all road users, including pedestrians, are aware of e-scooters in use.  

Safety and accessibility features and innovations were prioritized when the City selected the two providers in 2022. The City’s Accessibility Office participated in the evaluation process in 2022.  

City staff will again this year, monitor the roll out closely and meet with the e-scooter providers regularly to give real-time feedback to ensure corrective action is promptly carried out when needed. 

City staff are continuing to work with e-scooter providers to ensure their e-scooters are equipped with the required technologies from 2022 which encourage proper riding behavior and continue to reduce sidewalk riding and improper parking. Mitigation efforts during the 2023 season, which are carried forward from the 2022 season, include: 

• The use of the latest GPS technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI), allowing for more accurate location identification of individual e-scooters, refined throughout the initial weeks; 

• Detection technologies to help deter sidewalk riding by notifying riders that sidewalk riding is not allowed and disengaging the motor so they can safely return to a nearby bike lane or street; 

• Education programs; 

• Service provider staff proactively patrolling, monitoring, communicating with riders, and issuing fines and/or bans; 

• A streamlined reporting process via a dedicated e-form helping to monitor field conditions and reduce the burden on residents; 

• Providers are required to proactively monitor and action mis-parked complaints within 15 minutes; 

• Provider apps only allow riders to end their rides in designated parking areas, both virtual and physical; and 

As in 2022, dedicated By-law Officers will patrol the deployment area while providing education and enforcement. The By-law Officers have the authority to impound any e-scooters for any infraction, regardless of the 15 minutes time frame provided to the vendor. 

On January 1, 2020, the Province of Ontario started a five-year kick e-scooter pilot allowing municipalities to opt in and choose where and how e-scooters may be used in accordance with a set of provincial regulations.

On June 10, 2020 Council approved the Electric Kick Scooter Strategy and Pilot Project, Draft By-law and Bike Sharing and Electric Kick Scooter Sharing Agreements with Service Providers. Subsequently, Council enacted the Electric Kick Scooter By-law on June 24, 2020, making it legal to operate e-scooters on June 29, 2020, initiating the City of Ottawa’s participation in the pilot program.

Shared e-scooters are for rent by shared e-scooter providers (BIRD and Neuron). Some tourism companies also rent e-scooters. E-scooters can also be purchased for personal.

E-scooters outside of the shared e-scooter pilot program, or personal e-scooters, are subject to the same rules of the road as the shared e-scooters.

These rules include:

• Riders must be 16 years or older
• E-scooters can operate on the City’s multiuse pathways, cycling facilities, and roads with a speed limit of 50 kilometers/hour or lower
• E-scooters are not allowed to operate on NCC pathways. To find out more visit the NCC site: Share the Path - National Capital Commission (ncc-ccn.gc.ca)
• Maximum operating speed in Ottawa is 20 kilometers/hour
• E-scooters cannot operate on sidewalks or in transit stations
• Ottawa Public Health strongly recommends all users wear a helmet to reduce the risk of injury
• Each scooter is allowed a single rider at a time

The Electric Kick Scooter By-Law allows for Ottawa Police Services to issue fines for violations such as sidewalk riding, which is a $150 fine.

As per the Highway Traffic Act riders should not operate e-scooters while impaired.

For more information, please contact the City’s e-scooter pilot project team at escooter@ottawa.ca

Report a misparked e-scooter 

Shared e-scooter providers have committed to respond to misparked e-scooters within 15 minutes. Residents can report misparked e-scooters, by using the City’s dedicated e-form or calling 311.  To assist with reporting, each e-scooter has a printed number on it to identify the e-scooter in question.

In App Reporting:

If you would like to report a misparked e-scooter directly through the app, you can do so on both provider apps. For both apps, you can take a picture of the improper parking and submit it through the app.

Bird app has a triangle icon with an exclamation mark on the main screen. When you click on it, you’re given the option of reporting improper parking. If you would like to report any issues related to e-scooters, you can do so in the Bird Canada app by clicking on the top left menu button and selecting: Report an Issue.

Neuron app has a triangle icon with an exclamation mark and a headset icon with the word Help on the main screen. When you click on it, you’re given the option of reporting improper parking.

Report sidewalk riding

Residents can report sidewalk riding using the City’s new dedicated e-form or by calling 3-1-1. To assist with reporting, each e-scooter has a printed number on it to identify the e-scooter in question. This data will be tracked by By-law and Regulatory Services who will share this data with the appropriate vendor and Ottawa Police.  

Report an accident/collision, a damaged/defective e-scooter and/or have a general inquiry

Residents can report an accident/collision, damaged/defective e-scooter and/or make a general inquiry by using the City’s dedicated e-form or calling 311.  To assist with reporting, each e-scooter has a printed number on it to identify the e-scooter in question.

Where can I ride an e-scooter?

Following the City’s E-Scooter By-Law no 2020-174, shared and personal e-scooters can operate on the City’s multiuse pathways, cycling facilities like cycle tracks and bike lanes and on roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or lower.

Shared and personal e-scooters are not permitted to operate on sidewalks.

Personal e-scooters may be walked on to O-Train vehicles.

Shared e-scooter providers use geofence technology to create “no ride”, “no park” and “slow zones” including transit stations, NCC pathways, the ByWard Market (with the exception of York Street) and City of Ottawa parking garages.

Where can I park an e-scooter?

This year, e-scooters must be parked upright in either a physical designated parking space which are signed or in the permitted areas identified digitally in each of the e-scooter provider’s app. These permitted parking areas are within the Furniture Zone that is located only within sidewalks that are at least two (2) metres wide (i.e. the area  out of the path of travel, in line with bike racks and benches). You will not be permitted to park anywhere else apart from these designated parking areas.

Here are examples of the furniture zone and examples of designated parking areas

Why is my e-scooter making a constant noise?

A continuous sound emission is required for all shared e-scooters while rented by a rider and is meant to be distinguishable from the typical background noise present in a streetside environment. This safety technology is to ensure pedestrians and all road users are aware of their presence.  There are two distinct sounds used in Ottawa, one for when the shared e-scooter is stationary and the other when the shared e-scooter is in motion, which emit sounds at a decibel level relevant to its purpose.  The "stationary mode" sound is a low rumbling sound meant to alert individuals within a few metres of the presence of a stopped e-scooter.  The "in-motion mode" sound is a louder beep/ping sound meant to alert individuals of an approaching shared e-scooter from 10 or more metres away. 

What are the regulations for the operation of an e-scooter?

The following regulations are in place for shared e-scooters for the 2022 pilot project.

• Riders must be 16 years or older
• The operating speed limit is 20 km/hr or 12 km/h in designated ‘slow zone’
• Shared e-scooters from providers can used daily from 6 am to 11 pm
• For riders under 18, a helmet is required to ride the e-scooter.  Ottawa Public Health (OPH) strongly recommends all users wear a helmet to reduce the risk of injury.
• Each scooter is allowed a single rider at a time
• Follow proper riding and parking behaviour.

The Electric Kick Scooter By-Law allows for Ottawa Police Services to issue fines for violations such as sidewalk riding, which is a $150 fine. E-scooter providers can suspend or ban riders for violations.

As per the Highway Traffic Act riders should not operate e-scooters while impaired.

For more information or to provide feedback about the project, please contact the City’s e-scooter pilot project team at escooter@ottawa.ca

How do I access the shared escooters?  

Each shared e-scooter company has a unique QR code that identifies the vehicle, and their geo-localized app shows a live map of vehicle availability. Riders can scan the QR code on the vehicle to unlock it and start a trip. It will then onboard the rider, show the service area and boundaries and inform on the local rules. After the end of a ride, the rider will be asked to take a picture of the e-scooter to ensure it was properly parked as per local rules. The rider can then access their ride history within the app. Apps can be accessed by following the links:

• Bird Canada
• Neuron Mobility

The 2023 E-Scooter Deployment Area, No Ride Zones, aside from sidewalks (not shown), and Slow Ride Zones are visible in the interactive map below. E-scooters are not permitted on sidewalks and NCC pathways.

For the 2023 season, the riding zone will be introduced in phases. The initial deployment areas are visible in the map below.

Below you will find the interactive map directions:

• Clicking on the +/- symbols or using the scroll button on your mouse also allows users to zoom in and out.
• To pan, click on the map and hold while moving the mouse in the desired direction.
• Click on an area to have information regarding the area pop-up on the map.
• The legend can be viewed by clicking on the Legend toggle in the upper left corner of the map.
• To view aerial imagery, use the Layer toggle button in the upper left corner of the map and toggle it on.
• This application works best in the Google Chrome web browser.

Common questions

The 2022 pilot season, which ran from July 6, 2022, to November 15, 2022, saw a fleet of 900 e-scooters deployed by Bird Canada and Neuron Mobility. These vendors were selected through a competitive procurement process which prioritized safety and accessibility.

During the season, approximately 33000 riders took approximately 80000 rides. A total of 166,000 kilometers were travelled through the deployment area. The major focuses of the 2022 season were:

• Additional technological requirements regulating the operations of shared e-scooters to address concerns around improper riding and parking; Require and
• a new streamlined reporting system through the City.

City staff monitored the program closely and worked with the e-scooter providers on a regular basis for real-time feedback, continual compliance reviews and program refinements

During the 2022 season, mitigation actions included:

• The use of the latest GPS technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which allowed for more accurate location identification of individual e-scooters;
• Detection technologies to help deter sidewalk riding by notifying riders that sidewalk riding is not allowed and disengaging the motor so they can safely return to a nearby bike lane or street;
• Continuous sound emissions (when in use) to notify other roadway users of an e-scooter approaching;
• Education programs;
• Service provider staff proactively patrolling, monitoring, communicating with riders, and issuing fines and/or bans;
• A streamlined reporting process via a dedicated e-form helping to monitor field conditions and reduce the burden on residents;
• Providers were required to proactively monitor and action mis-parked complaints within 15 minutes (down from 1-hour in 2021);
• Provider apps only allowed riders to end their rides in designated parking areas, both virtual and physical; and
• In 2022, there were devoted by-law officers who patrolled the deployment zone while enforcing the law and offering instruction. Regardless of the vendor's allotted 15 minutes, the by-law officers could impound any e-scooters for any offence.

On April 12, 2023, Council received the results of the 2022 Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Report (Year 3) and approved the continuance of the pilot in 2023.  Staff recommended minor adjustments to the pilot program for the 2023 season as detailed in the report.

The 2021 pilot season, which ran from May 28, 2021, to November 30, 2021, saw a fleet of 1200 e-scooters deployed by Bird Canada, Lime, and Neuron Mobility. These vendors were selected through a competitive procurement process. During the season, more than 127,000 riders took over 492,000 separate trips throughout the expanded permitted deployment area south of the Ottawa River, west of the Rideau River, north of Highway 417 and east of Parkdale Avenue.  A major focus of the 2021 program was to reduce sidewalk riding and improper parking, issues that arose in the 2020 season. Safety and accessibility features and innovations were prioritized while selecting the e-scooter providers.

City staff worked closely with e-scooter providers to pilot new innovations that encouraged proper riding behaviour. Some technologies that were explored during the 2021 program included:

• Automatic alerts that notified providers if an e-scooter had remained tipped over for a period of time so the issue could be addressed;
• Different technologies to detect and prevent sidewalk riding;
• A constant sound emitter, alerting pedestrians of an approaching e-scooter;
• Incentives to riders for good parking behaviour;
• A training mode for new riders with a reduced operating speed; and,
• Designated parking locations for e-scooters within and in addition to furniture zone parking.

Shared e-scooter providers committed to respond to mis-parked e-scooters within one hour. Residents could submit general inquiries or report complaints  by contacting the company by phone, e-mail or through their app. Residents could also contact the City at 3-1-1.

On March 23, 2022, Council received the results of the 2021 Electric Kick Scooter Strategy and Pilot and approved the continuance of the pilot in 2022. Staff recommended several changes for the 2022 pilot season as detailed in the report.

On January 1, 2020, the Province of Ontario started a five-year kick e-scooter pilot allowing municipalities to opt in and choose where and how e-scooters may be used in accordance with a set of provincial regulations.  Any information gathered from municipalities in the duration of the project will aid in determining if e-scooter use will permanently be allowed in Ontario and if so, what rules will be regarding their operation.

Provincial regulations include:

• Riders must be 16 or older, helmets are required for riders under 18
• Speed limit is 24km/hr.
• E-scooters must be equipped with a bell, a brake, lights, and no basket
• Single rider only

On June 10, 2020  Council approved the Electric Kick Scooter Strategy and Pilot Project, Draft By-law and Bike Sharing and Electric Kick Scooter Sharing Agreements with Service Providers. Subsequently, Council enacted the Electric Kick Scooter By-law on June 24, 2020,  making it legal to operate e-scooters on June 29, 2020, initiating the City of Ottawa’s participation in the pilot program.

In addition to provincial regulations, the By-law states:

• E-scooters can operate on multiuse pathways, cycling facilities, and roads with a speed limit 50 km/h or lower
• Maximum operating speed in Ottawa is 20 km/h
• E-scooters cannot operate on sidewalks or transit stations

The 2020 shared e-scooter pilot season ran from July to October and saw a fleet of 600 e-scooters deployed by Bird Canada, Lime, and Roll. During the season, more than 72,720 riders took over 238,000 separate trips throughout the central deployment area.  The deployment area where e-scooters were permitted encompassed an area south of the Ottawa River, west of the Rideau River, north of Highway 417 and east of Parkdale Avenue.  The pilot program was designed to gauge public interest in the use of e-scooters and evaluate safe and courteous riding and parking.

On February 10, 2021, Council approved  the 2020 E-Scooter Pilot Report and Strategy which evaluated the 2020 pilot and recommended continuing the pilot in 2021.  Staff recommended several changes for the 2021 pilot season as detailed in the report.