E-Scooter Oversight and Management

MTO has proposed the following Operator/Rider/Vehicle Requirements: - Can operate on-road similar to where bicycles can operate; prohibited on controlled access highways - Minimum operating age 16 - Bicycle helmet required for those under 18 years old - No passengers allowed - Maximum operating speed 32 km/h - No pedals or seat allowed - Must have 2 wheels and brakes - Maximum wheel diameter 17 inches - Must have horn or bell - Must have front and back light - Maximum weight 45kg and Maximum power output 500W Staff from Transportation Services, Municipal Licensing and Standards as well as Toronto Public Health are reviewing this issue and will submit comments to the Province by the September 12, 2019 deadline. While the Province's changes to the HTA will likely enable individuals to use e-scooters, it is critical from a safety and accessibility perspective that the City have the authority to regulate any mass deployment of e-scooters on a commercial basis (e.g., scooter share) through a permit system. This would include the ability to manage the number of e-scooters, locations where they can operate, maintenance and operations requirements, communications protocols between the City and e-scooter rental/sharing companies and data-sharing requirements. This will form the basis of staff's comments to the Province. In light of the Province's accelerated timeline to establish the e-scooter pilot, it is recommended that the Infrastructure and Environment committee direct staff to develop the necessary programs to enable the oversight, management and regulation of e-scooters on the streets of Toronto during the Province's proposed pilot project. This would build on the direction given by this committee on April 25, 2019 in IE4.5 Proposed Regulatory Framework for Scooters, Cargo, and E-assist Cycles, which directed staff to report back with a regulatory framework in the fourth quarter of 2019. The recommendations below seek to provide parameters related to safety and accessibility until such time as staff report back with a program to enable the oversight and management of e-scooters.

2. City Council prohibit the use of e-scooters on City sidewalks and pedestrian ways, prohibit any person from parking, storing, standing or leaving an e-scooter on any street, sidewalk and pedestrian way. 3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary bills directly to Council to amend the requisite City by-laws or Municipal Code Chapters to give effect to City Council's decision in Recommendation 2 above, and authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, technical amendments, or by-law amendments as may be identified, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services.