Castlegar considers joining B.C. e-scooter pilot after RCMP warning

An electric kick scooter is parked beside a path. Castlegar council has directed staff to examine whether the city should join B.C.’s Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project.

Stock photo

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CASTLEGAR — Less than two months after RCMP warned that electric kick scooters are prohibited in Castlegar and riders could face fines of up to $598, city council is exploring whether to join the provincial program that would allow their use.

Council directed staff at its Aug. 10 meeting to prepare a report examining the option of joining B.C.’s Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project. The direction followed a presentation by Castlegar resident Marilyn Johnstone on active transportation, cycling safety and e-scooter regulations.

The move does not change the rules immediately. Electric kick scooters remain prohibited on Castlegar roads while the city remains outside the provincial pilot.

The issue comes shortly after Castlegar RCMP drew attention to growing use of electric transportation devices in the community.

In a June 23 public advisory, police said officers were seeing more e-bikes, e-scooters and e-dirt bikes on sidewalks, bike lanes, roadways and other public spaces.

RCMP specifically warned that electric kick scooters were prohibited in Castlegar because the city was not participating in the provincial pilot. Operating one in the city could result in a violation ticket and fines of up to $598, police said.

“The Castlegar RCMP, in partnership with the City of Castlegar Bylaw Department, will continue to focus on public education and targeted traffic enforcement to reduce risk and improve road safety,” Staff Sgt. Monty Taylor said in the June release.

Council’s discussion this month went beyond e-scooters.

According to the City, Johnstone’s presentation addressed cycling safety along Columbia Avenue, education for road users and electric kick scooter regulations. Council discussed ways to improve cycling safety and education, including the potential creation of an active transportation committee.

City staff also noted that active transportation will be a key part of Castlegar’s upcoming Transportation Master Plan.

The city has previously said the new plan will provide a long-term strategy for improving walking, cycling and vehicle connections. Castlegar’s last Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan was completed in 2007.

Under B.C.’s current pilot, municipalities can opt in to allow electric kick scooters on eligible roads. Provincial law requires municipal council to consent to participating and the transportation minister to subsequently publish notice authorizing the pilot in that municipality.

The current four-year pilot began April 5, 2024. The regulation governing it is scheduled to be repealed April 5, 2028.

The province says the pilot is intended to research, test and evaluate how electric kick scooters can be regulated.

Provincial rules require riders to be at least 16 years old and wear a bicycle safety helmet. Legal electric kick scooters cannot be capable of travelling faster than 25 km/h and their motors cannot exceed a combined continuous power output of 500 watts.

Where the speed limit is 50 km/h or less, riders in participating communities must use a cycling lane when one is available. Where there is no cycling lane, provincial rules generally require them to ride as near as practicable to the right side of the road unless local signs or rules direct them elsewhere.

Sidewalk riding is prohibited unless specifically permitted by a traffic-control device.

For now, however, those pilot rules do not authorize e-scooter use on Castlegar streets.

Council has only asked staff to investigate joining the program. The City’s Aug. 18 summary of the meeting did not provide a date for when that report will return to council.