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Vancouver police issued more than 1,275 tickets and warnings during a month-long e-scooter enforcement blitz targeting helmet, age and sidewalk violations.
Vancouver police have issued more than 1,275 tickets and warnings to e-scooter riders during a month-long enforcement campaign that began on Sept. 4 and continues through this weekend, the Vancouver Police Department said Friday. The blitz targets illegal behaviours including riding without a helmet, riding under the legal age of 16 and riding on the sidewalk.
E-Scooter Enforcement Targets Helmet Violations
Missing helmets accounted for the majority of incidents flagged during the campaign, producing 167 tickets and 753 warnings. Insp. Stephanie Willoughby said in a statement that at least one person was seriously injured over the summer and one person died.
She said the enforcement project was launched to coincide with the start of the school year in order to help keep people safe. E-scooters are permitted only in bike lanes or on the far-right side of roadways, and riders are barred from roads with speed limits above 50 km/h.
Hospital Warns of E-Scooter Injuries in Children
In June, B.C. Children's Hospital raised concerns about a spike in e-scooter injuries, more than half of which involved riders who were not wearing helmets. Doctors said most patients were between the ages of 13 and 15, meaning they were not legally allowed to ride, and that the majority had been speeding.
Injuries reported at the time included fractures, bruises and concussions. British Columbia has set a speed limit of 25 km/h for electric kick scooters, and devices capable of exceeding that limit are not legal on public roads, though some off-market and online retailers sell models capable of travelling significantly faster.
Doubling and Sidewalk Riding Draw Penalties
Vancouver police noted that riders are not allowed to carry a passenger on the devices, a practice known as doubling, despite how many young people have been seen doing so. Officers have issued 84 tickets and warnings for doubling during the blitz.
Another 181 tickets and warnings were handed out for riding on the sidewalk. Willoughby said e-scooters are a great mode of transportation, but riders need to know the rules and reach their destinations safely.
She added that not everyone is using the devices properly, so Vancouver police officers are raising awareness about the regulations and issuing tickets where necessary. The department reminded users that e-scooters belong in bike lanes or the far-right of roadways and must stay off faster roads.
The enforcement campaign follows mounting concern from health officials and police about injuries linked to the devices, particularly among children and teenagers who are not old enough to ride legally. The blitz is set to continue through the weekend, with officers expected to keep issuing tickets and warnings for helmet, age, doubling and sidewalk violations.
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