Accessibility Advisory Committee

WHEREAS, in Ontario, the use of e-scooters is prohibited, subject to any pilot projects adopted under O. Reg. 389/19 – Pilot Project – Electric Kick-Scooters. WHEREAS the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) has been actively engaged on the City of Ottawa’s shared Electric Kick Scooter Pilot in Ottawa, including during the 2020, 2021, and 2022 pilot projects. WHEREAS the AAC had, based on the results of the 2020 and 2021 pilot projects, passed a motion (AAC 2022 1/20) advising City Council: not to conduct any more pilots that would allow e-scooters to be used in any public places in Ottawa, whether the e-scooter is owned by, borrowed by, or rented by the rider; and to decline any further participation in O.Reg 389/19 – Pilot Project – Electric Kick-Scooters. WHEREAS the AAC has been consulted by City staff on the results of the 2022 pilot project and the recommendations from staff arising out of the 2022 pilot project; WHEREAS the 2022 pilot project demonstrated that accessibility barriers caused by misuse of e-scooters can be mitigated through technologies that: only allow e-scooter parking in specific, geofenced areas; detect and prevent sidewalk riding; and cause e-scooters to emit a constant, audible noise when in motion; WHEREAS the AAC understands that these accessibility barrier-preventing technologies are not yet available on private e-scoters sold to consumers, and that the City of Ottawa does not currently have the ability to impose such technologies on e-scooters