By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh
Talk of further regulation of e-bikes and e-scooters on Mount Pearl trails at the June 23 public council meeting – including a potential ban - resulted in some swift resident feedback for councillors.
So much so that the topic was revisited during roundtable discussions at a public meeting last month, with councillors highlighting the delicate balance between ensuring public safety on the trails and the risk of limiting responsible use of e-transportation.
“It’s almost like a double-edged sword here. You’re having the e-bikes trying to be banned from the trails and on the other hand we have residents that use those e-bikes, so I know we’re into a very delicate situation,” said councillor Mark Rice, adding three residents had spoken to him, including one who stopped in front of his house to chat while on an e-bike. “I know there are some concerns and I just want to put that out there.”
The initial council discussion was prompted by resident complaints regarding high-speed use of e-bikes and e-scooters on the trails. It comes as the City is promoting “active and multi-modal transportation.” Staff were asked to review the regulations and the possibility of a ban.
Mayor Dave Aker noted the City has written Government Services Minister Mike Goosney asking to be part of the consultation process on the regulation of e-bikes and scooters, adding there was no mention of a ban.
Councillor Isabelle Fry, who sits on the board of Municipalities NL, said the group met with Goosney a short while ago and she believes legislation will have to be developed.
“One of the things I did take away from that is that he is very invested, his staff are very invested, and they want to do it right,” Fry said. ‘It’s kind of like when seatbelts first came out. Nobody wanted regulations on seatbelts – people cut them out of their cars – but now you get aboard your car and the first thing you do is put on your seatbelt. It’s just going to evolve over time but, again, it’s coming.”
Councillor Bill Antle, who owns a pedal-assisted e-bike – essentially a pedal bike with enough power to help people get up hills, but doesn’t have a throttle – said there is already a speed limit of 20km/h on city trails and regulations prohibiting use of motorized vehicles on the trails.
“The definition is if it doesn’t have pedals and it doesn’t move by itself, then it’s a motorized vehicle,” Antle said. “So, we already have the legislation in place because scooters are motorized vehicles that don’t have pedals and if they can move on their own it’s a motorized vehicle (and) they’re not allowed on our trails. Dirtbikes – electric dirtbikes – if they don’t have pedals are not allowed.”
Antle said on a recent trip down to Quidi Vidi on his pedal-assisted bike, he never went over 20km/h and he was passed by e-scooters and e-dirtbikes.
“They were flying,” he said.
Antle said he isn’t interested in banning e-bikes or responsible users, though he could support more regulation.
Deputy Mayor Jim Locke argued the issue isn’t about the vehicle itself but the responsible use of the vehicle in question.
“We may need regulations, we may need more communications and maybe we need to set up stops along the trail to promote (safe use),” Locke said. “They’re not going away,”