Residents could soon have a new mode of transport around the city with Salmon Arm council considering taking part in the BC Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Program, legalizing e-scooter use for people ages 16 and over.
Electric kick scooters are battery-powered motorized devices with two to four wheels, a platform for standing and handlebars for steering.
Starting April 5, 2024, a new pilot project was underway to continue testing electric kick scooter use in participating B.C. communities.
Each participating community can set certain rules establishing where you may use an e-scooter, in addition to the pre-existing rules and regulations implemented by the project itself.
The provincial government is using the results of these pilot projects to determine whether electric kick scooters should operate permanently throughout the province.
Salmon Arm Mayor, Alan Harrison, expressed concern about the idea of these scooters on sidewalks.
A report has been released including an approach of legalizing e-scooters that could start with the pilot project. Staff would still look for input from the city’s Traffic and Safety Committee. Their next meeting will take place in November.
During the meeting, staff recommend changes to the city’s traffic bylaw.
“Given current workload priorities, bylaw review is expected to take place through the latter portion of 2025 into 2026,” the report read.
Adoption of the pilot program would have no financial impact.
The committee voted unanimously in favour of proceeding to become part of the pilot project.
