In March 2017, companies in California began renting electric
scooters, or e-scooters, to the public via a smartphone
application. For clarity, these relative newcomers to the
marketplace of personal mobility devices:
E-scooters have enjoyed commercial success, but are not without
their detractors. While some see them as the future of the morning
commute, others consider e-scooters to be a public nuisance and a
danger to drivers and pedestrians, with the city of San Francisco
even imposing a temporary outright ban on such vehicles.
Key players in the e-scooter rental industry have expressed interest in entering the Canadian
market. Currently, e-scooters may be purchased in Canada for
between CAD$300 and CAD$600. In this article, we examine the
regulatory framework currently governing the use of e-scooters in
Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
