Hamilton rolls out e-scooter rentals, part of Ontario pilot program

The City of Hamilton rolled out its new electric scooter (e-scooter) pilot program on Monday, which it says will complement the city's existing bike share program.

In January, 2020 the province of Ontario announced a five-year pilot program permitting e-scooters to operate in municipalities that optin to the program.

Hamilton city council approved two bylaws in December that same year. One opted Hamilton into the pilot program, while the otherregulates the use of personal and commercial e-scooters within the city.

The city's director of theOffice of Climate Change Initiatives,Lynda Lukasik,was at Monday's launch, alongside several city councillors.

She applauded the addition of another mode of "sustainable transportation"for the city, calling the e-scooters "a wonderful 'micro mobility' option that's great for shorter trips in urban areas."

The city is partnering with Bird Canada for the pilot program.

At Monday's launch, held at city hall, CEO of Bird Canada Stewart Lyons said his hope for the program is three-fold.

"I really hope they have a sustainable program, I hope that we engage with the community [and]the community adopts the program, and I hope they reduce a lot of vehicle traffic I hope a lot of people use scooters instead or rideshare or their own car," Lyons told CBC Hamilton.

Hamilton joins other cities in Canada that have already launched pilot programs, from Richmond, B.C.to Ottawa. Some other citieshave chosen not to support a program Toronto, for instance, opted out of the Ontario pilot, citing"safety and accessibility"concerns.

In Hamilton, up to 450 e-scooters will beavailable to rent in Wards 1, 2, 3 and 13.

On Monday, they could be seen locked up in the parking rings also used for bicyclesalong downtown streets. A "bird ride" pass costs $24.92, allowing for up to 90 minutes of riding, within 24 hours. A week pass cost $62.49, allowing unlimited rides up to 630 minutes per pass, or about 90 minutes per day, for seven days.

Lyons said people can download the Bird Canada app on their smart phones and use it to find the locations of the e-scooters, which he said are "all over downtown and by the lake."

Once you locate an e-scooter you will need to scan its QR code, which is located at the top of the scooter. Before you ride you must also agree to the terms.

Lyons said the app will also provide "rules that will explain to you as a new rider in Hamilton how to ride and where to ride and how to end a ride. And you just agree to all that and away you go."

There's also riding guidelines printedon the e-scooters, including:

• Don't ride on the sidewalk.
• Don't double ride.
• Wear a helmet. (E-scooters don't come with a helmet).
• Riders must be 16 and over.

To support their safe use, e-scooters also:

• Cannot be fitted with baskets, pedals or seats.
• Lights must be used on an e-scooter any time from 30 minutesbefore sunset to 30 minutesafter sunrise and at any other time when there is insufficient light.