E-scooters could be allowed on Kelowna streets by summer | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kelowna News

E-scooters could be allowed on Kelowna streets by summer

Ogo scooter co-owner Chris Szydloski might be able to rent his machines all over Kelowna by summer.

The next step in getting e-scooter rentals onto city streets rather than being restricted to a few crowded pathways in B.C. has been announced by the province.

The provincial government currently prohibits things like e-scooters and electric skateboards from bike lanes or city streets while local governments generally don’t allow them on sidewalks.

Four e-scooter rental companies opened for business in Kelowna last year but they could only be ridden along lakefront trails or the Okanagan Rail Trail, causing some complaints about congestion in areas like City Park.

Today, Jan. 17, the province invited cities to propose pilot projects for the expanded use of such devices.

"We recognize technology and transportation are changing, and people want new ways to commute," parliamentary secretary for technology Rick Glumac said in a media release. "I look forward to seeing how these pilot projects will help British Columbians access modern ways of getting around their communities."

The City of Kelowna has already asked to run a pilot project but this is the formal process it has to go through.

Proposals for pilot projects have to be submitted to the province by March 6 with the expectation that they can be launched by this summer.


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