FILE PHOTO - Two people are seen riding e-scooters in Vernon in this undated photo.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Neuron Mobility
March 10, 2022 - 10:30 AM
E-scooters are returning to Vernon early this year.
You'll be able to rent one from Neuron Mobility starting March 15, following what the company believes was a successful initial rollout last year.
Neuron reported its own survey results showing 93% of of riders in Vernon believed the e-scooters had a positive impact on the community and collectively got 160,000 kilometres of use from them, even though they only started in July last year.
The company also said it intended to bring e-bikes to Vernon but the company said they won't be on the road until summer.
READ MORE: Vernon to add e-bikes alongside e-scooters next year
The e-scooters rent for $1.15 plus $0.35 per minute after that or frequent users can buy passes for three days, a week or a month.
While last year was Vernon's first foray into rental people-movers, so far Kamloops and Penticton haven't gotten in on it. Kelowna's been experimenting with rental electric scooters and bicycles for several years, but has struggled to get compliance from companies operating them.
READ MORE: New rules cut Kelowna e-scooter program by more than half
The City of Kelowna imposed 19 rules on the companies last year and found two of the four companies could not meet the new expectations, such as not allowing the scooters to operate after 10:30 p.m. The City also wants them off the waterfront walkway downtown, including the highway 97 underpass near City Park and Rotary Marsh and along four blocks of Bernard Avenue that were closed to traffic last year. They also want to be able to warn riders about restrictions and even levy fines.
The scooters in Kelowna are currently available for rent.
Meanwhile, not everyone has been happy with the scooters, including an orthopedic surgeon who called them "fracture factories."
READ MORE: Kelowna's e-scooters are a 'fracture factory', orthopedic surgeon says
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