B.C. cities urge province to speed up e-scooter rules

Municipal leaders in British Columbia are calling on the province to move faster on permanent escooter regulations as injuries continue to rise, especially among children and youth. The province began a sevenyear pilot program in 2021 to study electric kick scooters and has expanded the program to 36 municipalities, but several cities say the current patchwork of rules is creating confusion and safety concerns. At a Lower Mainland Local Government Association conference, New Westminster Coun. Tasha Henderson pushed a resolution asking the province to end the pilot sooner and create provincewide rules. City of North Vancouver Coun. Tony Valente also said clearer direction is needed, and he is proposing a local education campaign about safe and legal escooter use. The issue has drawn renewed attention after B.C. Children’s Hospital reported 81 escooterrelated emergency visits among children and youth in the past year, more than double the previous year. The provincial government says it is still collecting data and does not plan changes to the pilot right now, though it is preparing new public education materials.