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By Curtis Galbraith
City Hall

More teeth for bylaw after rules brought in for e-bikes and e-scooters says Grande Prairie city councillor

Dec 17, 2023 | 6:00 AM

A member of city council says changes to include e-bikes and e-scoters in the Parkland Bylaw will give those rules “more teeth.”

The changes mean that the use of such contraptions on pathways is now included in the bylaw where only bicycles were in it previously.

Councillor Mike O’Connor says he has been hearing some safety concerns from the public.

“I’ve received a number of calls from people almost getting run over, people passing on both sides, not announcing when they’re coming, so I think it’s important that people stay to the right (and) follow the rules and now we have the tools to be able to monitor that and to be able to respond in an appropriate manner.”

The previous edition of the bylaw only included bicycles. It now requires anyone using e-bikes and e-scooters to travel at a reasonable speed, stay on the right, let others know when passing and to not carry passengers.

O’Connor says these changes give Enforcement Services the authority to deal with electric bike and scooter use where they had none before.

“So, I think it’s important that we take a good look at what’s happening on our trails with the advent of e-scooters (and e-bikes).”

Councillor Chris Thiessen cast the lone no vote, saying while it is nice to have rules, “why have them if they can’t be enforced?”

Councillor Mike O’Connor thinks council needed to put these rules in place “to be able to monitor the safety of our residents.”

“So, I think it’s important that we have this ability to do that. There is no speed limit. We want to be able to monitor and see if people call in to 311, then we’re able to determine (if) we need to put a focus on a different area.”

Council approved the change at its December 11 meeting.

by Curtis Galbraith