Item - 2024.IE13.1

That City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to conduct a micromobility cordon count this Fall 2024 and at least once every two years to monitor trends in usage of micromobility vehicles over time and to share the data and cordon count report once available through the City’s website.

That City Council delete Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommendations 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Recommendations to be deleted:

2. City Council opt in to participate in O. Reg. 215/17 Pilot Project - Low-Speed Vehicles generally as outlined in the report (April 18, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, titled "A Micromobility Strategy for Toronto".

3. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, as follows:

a. By inserting a new definition of "Low-Speed Vehicle" in Section 950-101B in alphabetical order, to read as follows:

"LOW-SPEED VEHICLE - means a motor vehicle as defined in Ontario Regulation 215/17 Pilot Project - Low-Speed Vehicles, as amended, made under the Highway Traffic Act. In the event that a low-speed vehicle is otherwise defined in the Highway Traffic Act and its regulations, low-speed vehicle shall then have the meaning as defined in the Highway Traffic Act and its regulation."; and

b. By inserting a new section 950-200F, which states, "No person shall operate or permit the operation of a low-speed vehicle on a highway unless the vehicle meets, and is operating in accordance with, the requirements in Ontario Regulation 215/17."

4. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-For-Hire, to prohibit the use of low-speed vehicles as taxicabs, limousines, and private transportation company vehicles.

5. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to report back at the end of the provincial pilot project for low-speed vehicles in 2027, or sooner as requested, to the appropriate Committee with an evaluation of the operation of low-speed vehicles on city streets and any recommended policy and by-law changes, based on the evaluation and in consultation with relevant internal and external interested and affected parties.

That City Council amend Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommendation 7 by adding the words "and request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to report back to City Council in the fall of 2024 on the progress and status if this initiative" so that it reads as follows: 

7. City Council request the Toronto Police Service Board to request the Chief of Police, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services, to conduct an educational blitz in the summer of 2024 and an educational and enforcement blitz in the spring and the fall beginning in 2025 to enhance public awareness of key safety issues, i.e. illegal sidewalk riding, wrong way riding in cycle tracks, illegal e-moped use in cycle tracks, and illegal parking in bike lanes, and to improve compliance, and request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to report back to City Council in the fall of 2024 on the progress and status of this initiative.

That City Council amend Infrastructure and Environment Committee Recommendation 12 by:

a. deleting the word "couriers" and replacing with the words "courier businesses and transportation businesses,";

b. deleting the word "third-party"; and

c. adding the words "and to authorize the City to hold these courier and transportation businesses to account for any damages and breaches of the rules of the road committed by those carrying out deliveries on their behalf or at their direction";

so that it reads as follows:

12. City Council request the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to delete clauses 1(1) (b) to (d) of O. Reg. 590/06 under the City of Toronto Act to give the City authority to license courier courier businesses and transportation businesses, and their vehicles that are used for hire, and to require that they carry adequate third-party insurance, in order to improve compliance with the rules of the road, to facilitate enforcement and to provide fair compensation to those injured by couriers; and to authorize the city to hold these courier and transportation businesses to account for any damages and breaches of the rules of the road committed by those carrying out deliveries on their behalf or at their direction.

That:

1. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to explore signage for parks and trails educating the public on which micromobility vehicles are allowed.

That:

1. City Council request the Toronto Police Service Board to request the Chief of Police, to work with the General Manager, Transportation Services, to prepare a briefing note for dissemination to Toronto Police Service Division superintendents, outlining what micromobility devices are allowed/not allowed in the City of Toronto, such briefing note to include where, when, and the status of any pilots.

Adoption of Infrastructure and Environment Committee Recommendation 1 only:

1. City Council continue to decline the option to participate in Ontario Regulation 389/19 – Pilot Project – Electric Kick-Scooters.

Adoption of Infrastructure and Environment Committee Recommendations 2, 3, 4, and 5 only:

2. City Council opt in to participate in Ontario Regulation 215/17 Pilot Project - Low-Speed Vehicles generally as outlined in the report (April 18, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, titled "A Micromobility Strategy for Toronto".

3. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, as follows:

a. by inserting a new definition of "Low-Speed Vehicle" in Section 950-101B in alphabetical order, to read as follows:

"LOW-SPEED VEHICLE - means a motor vehicle as defined in Ontario Regulation 215/17 Pilot Project - Low-Speed Vehicles, as amended, made under the Highway Traffic Act. In the event that a low-speed vehicle is otherwise defined in the Highway Traffic Act and its regulations, low-speed vehicle shall then have the meaning as defined in the Highway Traffic Act and its regulation."; and

b. by inserting a new section 950-200F, which states, "No person shall operate or permit the operation of a low-speed vehicle on a highway unless the vehicle meets, and is operating in accordance with, the requirements in Ontario Regulation 215/17."

4. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-For-Hire, to prohibit the use of low-speed vehicles as taxicabs, limousines, and private transportation company vehicles.

5. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to report back at the end of the provincial pilot project for low-speed vehicles in 2027, or sooner as requested, to the appropriate Committee with an evaluation of the operation of low-speed vehicles on city streets and any recommended policy and by-law changes, based on the evaluation and in consultation with relevant internal and external interested and affected parties.

Adoption of Infrastructure and Environment Committee Recommendation 12, as amended, only:

12. City Council request the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to delete clauses 1(1) (b) to (d) of O. Reg. 590/06 under the City of Toronto Act to give the City authority to license courier courier businesses and transportation businesses, and their vehicles that are used for hire, and to require that they carry adequate third-party insurance, in order to improve compliance with the rules of the road, to facilitate enforcement and to provide fair compensation to those injured by couriers; and to authorize the city to hold these courier and transportation businesses to account for any damages and breaches of the rules of the road committed by those carrying out deliveries on their behalf or at their direction.

Councillor Moise, rising on a Point of Order, requested that Council vote separately on recommendations 1 and 12.

Councillor Holyday, rising on a Point of Order, requested that Council vote separately on recommendations 2 to 5, should his motion to delete recommendations 2 to 5 not carry.

That Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Amend Recommendation 6 by adding the words "by the end of fourth quarter of 2024." after "safety issues" so the recommendation now reads as follows:

6. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with relevant internal Divisions and Agencies, Boards and Commissions, and external interested and affected parties, to convene a multi-partner table, including but not limited to food delivery app companies, gig workers, the Toronto Association for Business Improvement Areas, and community groups representing persons with disabilities, pedestrians, seniors, and cyclists, and relevant Divisions and Agencies, Boards and Commissions, to collaborate on a public education campaign on the rules of the road, safe riding skills, and other initiatives to address concerns that arise, and to work collectively to address safety issues, by the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.

2. Amend Recommendation 7 by adding the words "an educational and enforcement blitz" after "2024", and by adding the words "to improve compliance" after "lanes" so that the recommendation now reads as follows:

7. City Council request the Toronto Police Service Board to request the Chief of Police, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services, to conduct an educational blitz in the summer of 2024 and an educational and enforcement blitz in the spring and the fall beginning in 2025 to enhance public awareness of key safety issues, i.e. illegal sidewalk riding, wrong way riding in cycle tracks, illegal e-moped use in cycle tracks, and illegal parking in bike lanes, and to improve compliance.

That Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommend that:

1. City Council request the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to delete clauses 1(1) (b) to (d) of O. Reg. 590/06 under the City of Toronto Act to give the City authority to license couriers and their vehicles, and to require that they carry adequate third-party liability insurance, in order to improve compliance with the rules of the road, to facilitate enforcement and to provide fair compensation to those injured by couriers.