Vancouver Police issue more than 1,275 warnings and tickets in e-scooter campaign

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is conducting a month-long targeted campaign to enforce electric kick scooter regulations. More than 1,275 warnings and tickets have been issued so far. Insp. Stephanie Willoughby, who leads the safety initiative, said e-scooters are a useful way to get around, but riders need to know the rules and reach their destinations safely. Vancouver Police officers are raising awareness and issuing tickets where necessary, she said, because not everyone is using the scooters properly.

Most interactions involved riders not wearing helmets: officers issued 920 warnings and tickets, comprising 753 warnings and 167 tickets. At least 181 warnings and tickets were issued for riding an e-scooter on the sidewalk. Riding double resulted in 84 warnings and tickets, while riders under 16 received at least 24 warnings and tickets.

Rules riders often missed include wearing a helmet; walking e-scooters on sidewalks and across crosswalks; not riding double; and being at least 16 years old to ride. Front and rear lights should be on between sunset and sunrise. Riders should use cycle lanes or the far right of roads, but e-scooters are prohibited on roads with speed limits above 50 km/h. The maximum speed is 25 km/h. The full rules are available at https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/electric-kick-scooters.aspx.

Willoughby said police saw at least one person seriously injured over the summer, as well as one fatality. The enforcement project began at the start of the school year to help keep people safe, she said. The VPD campaign began Sept. 4 and runs to Oct. 4. The VPD Traffic Enforcement Unit will continue safety initiatives throughout the year.