Item - 2023.IE4.8

The Item was withdrawn from the agenda.

In January 2020, the province began a five-year Electric kick-style scooters (e-scooters, pilot project allowing municipalities to regulate the use of e-scooters. The City of Toronto has an opportunity to participate by prioritizing active transportation programs, to include e-scooters as part of the solution for moving individuals around our city.

Toronto chose not to partake in the pilot project, which I have heard from many members of the public, is placing Toronto at a disadvantage. They have told me this is a missed opportunity to not pilot e-scooters as an addition to our active transportation programs, adding to our commitment to the cycling network plan.

The Region of Durham, on April 27, 2022, passed By-law23-2022 "permitting the use of e-scooters on Regional roads. As a result, e-scooters are now permitted on regional roads in Pickering, but not on City roads. Staff have drafted the Electric Kick Scooter By-law to ensure there is a consistent approach to e-Scooter use across all of Pickering."

On April 6, 2023, the City of Brampton issued a press release, launching Brampton's first ever E-scooter program, introducing as stated in the release: "connecting residents with another sustainable active transportation option"

I ask for your support to review a framework to initiate a pilot project to allow the City of Toronto to participate in the pilot for the regulation of e-scooters.