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E-Scooters are Back in Calgary for the Summer!

E-Scooters Are Back!

E-Scooters are back! Last summer, Calgarians were able to participate in the City of Calgary’s 16-month Shared Electric Scooter Pilot, which allowed third parties Lime and Bird to set up their shared e-scooters in Calgary for public use.

On November 1, 2019, the scooters were pulled from the streets, and Calgarians were able to provide insight and feedback on the program in a series of public engagement events, as well as online, to further improve the program for future phases.

With a few minor tweaks to the pilot program, Lime, Bird and newcomer Roll are back on the streets of Calgary, so you can transport with ease down 17th Ave. Here, we lay out the updates to the pilot, and the protocols put in place for COVID 19.

An Update From the City of Calgary

As of June 22, 2020, the city has shared some of the changes Calgarians will be seeing this summer in regards to electronic scooter based on the public safety concerns that were shared after the pilot. They have worked closely with Alberta Health Services (AHS) to ensure scooter and riders operators are in compliance with public safety guidelines during COVID-19.

New To The Scene: Roll

There is also a newcomer on the scene. In addition to the 2,000 scooters that will be provided by Lime and Bird – 1,000 from each respective company – Canadian e-scooter company Role has also launched in Calgary this year. Roll initially provided 500 scooters, but will gradually increase this number throughout the summer.

Photo Credit Roll

Here’s what e-scooter usage will look like in Calgary and on 17th Ave this summer:  

Using e-scooters during COVID-19: The shared e-scooters are not cleaned every every use, so the City of Calgary has emphasized the following safety guidelines to ensure the safety of all riders.

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after using a shared e-scooter. Use hand sanitizer when soap is not available.
  • Bring your own pre-moistened disinfectant wipes and wipe down the shared scooter before and after use.
  • Avoid touching your face when using a shared e-scooter.
  • Maintain physical distancing while riding the shared e-scooters. Whether you are riding alone or with people, you are still required to maintain at least two meters between yourself and anyone else.
  • Only one person at a time is permitted on the scooter. No ‘doubling.’
  • Be safe while riding the scooter and ensure to slow down and leave space when passing other people. Always give two meters of space.

 

New changes from the Pilot

Share & Go Parking Zones

These painted in areas can be found on the sidewalk or repurposed Car2Go parking stalls in locations with high e-scooter usage to prevent any disruptive or inconsiderate e-scooter parking. They are intended to be a place to find easy access to scooters, or end you ride. They can also accommodate multiple scooters at once. Find a map of the Share & Go Parking Zones here.

Slow Speed Zones

Slow Speed Zones have been put into place in areas with high traffic sidewalks and walkways. When in a slow speed zone, scooters will automatically reduce the speed of shared e-scooters from a maximum of 20 km/h to a maximum of 15 km/h. E-scooter riders can avoid these zones by using bike lanes, cycle tracks and pathway networks located here.

Fines

New fines have been put into place to address public safety concerns and mitigate careless e-scooter rider behaviour. Riders can be fined for operating a scooter in a reckless manner, for colliding with another user on the sidewalk or street, and for carrying a passenger on a shared e-scooter. For more information on e-scooter fines, see The City of Calgary Traffic Bylaws.

Tips from the City of Calgary on safe operation of e-scooters:

  •  Yield to Pedestrians
  •  Be considerate and use bell to alert others when passing on a sidewalk, pathway or bike lane.
  •  Ride safely. Riders must be 18+, and helmets are encouraged.
  •  Park in secure, upright position in designated areas such as furniture zones on sidewalks, public bike racks in the new share and go parking zones and other marked parking zones. On sidewalks without furniture zones, give at least two meters of clearance for accessibility.
  •  If you notice an e-scooter has fallen over or is parked incorrectly, report the issue to the operator. Contact information for operator is located on each e-scooter.

Find out more about the City of Calgary’s shared electric scooter pilot at calgary.ca

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