At a council meeting on May 20, the District of Squamish council unanimously supported a motion to take part in the Province of BC Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project.
The District of Squamish will join the Province of B.C.’s Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project (EKSPP), which would allow the use of e-scooters on local roads and bike lanes—something currently prohibited under the Motor Vehicle Act unless municipalities opt into the program.
“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 bring clarity to where and how they can be used, allowing the RCMP to enforce related rules.
The pilot program was launched in 2021 and is scheduled to run through 2028, currently involving 26 municipalities, with an extension through 2024. To join, municipalities must pass a resolution of support and are encouraged to submit annual reports to the province. Local governments can also choose to 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 they must ride in bike lanes or as far to the right as possible on roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or lower. E-scooters are not permitted on sidewalks or in crosswalks unless specific signage allows it—something a municipal bylaw alone cannot authorize.
District staff recommended that Squamish rely on the provincial regulation for now, rather than immediately passing local bylaws. A broader overhaul of the Traffic Bylaw is already planned and could address additional micromobility devices such as e-bikes and skateboards at a later stage, the report noted.
With the council’s support for the motion, district staff will notify the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and begin preparing educational materials as part of a larger micromobility safety campaign. The staff report 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.
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