Electric scooters could soon become legal on Squamish streets if the District joins a provincial pilot project to regulate the increasingly popular devices.
Staff will seek council support to join the Province of B.C.’s Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project (EKSPP), which would allow e-scooters on local roads and bike lanes. Unless municipalities opt into the program, they are banned under the Motor Vehicle Act.
“E-scooters provide a relatively inexpensive, environmentally friendly transportation option,” staff note in the report, adding that the devices are already being used extensively in Squamish despite being technically illegal. Joining the EKSPP would clarify where and how they can be used and allow the RCMP to enforce related rules.
The pilot program was launched in 2021 and extended in 2024 to run through 2028, with 26 municipalities participating. To join, municipalities must pass a resolution of support and are encouraged to submit annual reports to the province. Local governments can also adopt their bylaws or install traffic signage to regulate usage, though the provincial rules override any conflicting municipal regulations.
Under the provincial framework, e-scooter riders must be at least 16 years old, and the devices must not exceed 25 km/h on level ground. Riders are not required to carry a license or insurance, but must ride in bike lanes or as far right as possible on roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or lower. E-scooters are prohibited on sidewalks or crosswalks unless specific signage allows it—something a municipal bylaw alone cannot authorize.
District staff recommend that Squamish rely on provincial regulations rather than immediately pass local bylaws. The staff report notes that a broader overhaul of the Traffic Bylaw is already planned and could address additional micromobility devices such as e-bikes and skateboards later.
If the council supports the move at a meeting today, staff will notify the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and begin preparing educational materials for a safety campaign. The staff report also notes that without joining the pilot, the District would have to discourage e-scooter use altogether—an approach that could limit access to a low-emissions, sustainable transport option.
