CAG Position Statement - E-scooters

E-scooters create serious obstacles and dangers to pedestrians who are blind, Deafblind, or partially sighted. The CAG strongly disagrees with the introduction of e-scooters in Canadian municipalities but if e-scooters are permitted within Canadian cities, expectations and measures must be put in place to mitigate the risks to blind pedestrians prior to e-scooter introduction. Read the full Position Statement for further information and CAG recommendations.

Position Statement on E-scooters

Revised – September 6, 2022

About the Consumer Access Group

The Consumer Access Group (CAG) is a coalition of blindness related not-for-profit organizations. Each partner contributes their expertise to developing position statements on blindness related concerns. These statements enable organizations and individuals to advocate with a common voice on blindness-related issues, increasing the capacity of each to more effectively promote social inclusion for Canadians who are blind, Deafblind, and partially sighted.

Issue

E-scooters, or micro mobility devices, are two-wheeled electric single passenger vehicles which provide some pedestrians with an alternate mode of mobility. These devices can operate on shared use trails and in busy urban centers. When a rider is finished with the e-scooter, they simply park it for the next user. 

While innovative and environmentally friendly, these devices potentially create serious obstacles and dangers to pedestrians who are blind, Deafblind, or partially sighted. The CAG strongly disagrees with the introduction of e-scooters in Canadian municipalities. If, however, e-scooters are to be permitted within Canadian cities, expectations and measures must be put in place to mitigate the risks to pedestrians, especially those who are blind, Deafblind, or partially sighted.

Background

If Canadian municipalities plan to adopt and approve both privately owned and rental e-scooters, collaborative consultation with the disability community must be undertaken, and strict regulations, which place the safety of pedestrians front and center, must be adopted at the same time. 

While e-scooters are a convenient way of travel, they should not take precedence over the safety of pedestrians. Permitting e-scooters to access pedestrian walkways will further marginalize road users including pedestrians who are blind, Deafblind, and partially sighted.

Of utmost importance, therefore, is prohibiting e-scooters from being ridden on sidewalks and being haphazardly parked or operated at unsafe speed, as well as operators being unaware or ignoring the rules of the road.

Of concern to CAG is the lack of expectations for parking or storing the devices when not in use. Parking zones for e-scooters may not be designated and therefore may not keep a clear path of travel for pedestrians. 

E-scooters also must not be permitted to travel along city sidewalks. E-scooters can reach speeds of up to 32 kilometers per hour; in cities with limited sidewalk space, this presents a safety hazard to all pedestrians — particularly those who are blind, Deafblind, or partially sighted. These pedestrians, including guide dog handlers, cannot be expected to step off a sidewalk onto a street or rough terrain to avoid a collision with an e-scooter or navigate around an abandoned device parked haphazardly on a public pathway.

Because e-scooters are generally electric powered, they, like other electric vehicles, emit a significantly lower amount of noise than most other noise sources in the city environment. This fact creates a situation where blind, Deafblind, and partially sighted pedestrians may be unaware that an e-scooter is approaching or passing them, possibly at a high speed. This situation places these pedestrians in danger that they may unwittingly move into the path of a travelling e-scooter.

Recommendations

  1. E-scooters must be treated as bicycles and operators must follow the same rules of the road as cyclists. The e-scooter rider must be provided with educational materials informing them of these rules with particular emphasis on their obligation to stop at crosswalks and communicate with blind pedestrians waiting to cross.
  2. E-scooters should only be parked in designated areas which are clearly marked and are cane detectible. Whenever possible, parking zones should be located off the sidewalk, such as in a parking space, to avoid the need to traverse the sidewalk to get to the road or bike lane.
  3. Designated parking areas located on sidewalks must not impede a direct path of travel and a minimum of 1.8 meters space should exist around the parking area to enable pedestrians who are blind, Deafblind, or partially sighted to safely navigate around these designated areas.
  4. E-scooters should include a scannable QR code prominently situated on the device and marked using tactile and high contrast lettering, enabling pedestrians and other road users to report an e-scooter which has been left in an inappropriate location.
  5. When duly reported to micro mobility operators, expectations should be established by municipalities that prompt action is taken to remove the e-scooter and take it to a designated parking spot. 
  6. Municipalities should establish appropriate mechanisms and/or administrative penalties which will serve to discourage unsafe practices, such as excessive speed or careless abandonment of e-scooters.
  7. E-scooters should be expected to emit a continuous polyphonic audible signal while they are in motion. The pitch of the audible signal should increase as the speed of the e-scooter increases. The volume of the audible signal should automatically be adjusted to be heard over the background noise of a typical city environment. If the audible signal is not working, the e-scooter should be taken out of service until it is repaired. 
  8. All e-scooters should have a horn or bell installed. The horn or bell should have sufficient volume and/or pitch to be heard by blind, Deafblind, and partially sighted pedestrians over the background noise of the city environment. Drivers of the e-scooter should be required to use the horn or bell to warn pedestrians that they are approaching or about to pass. 
Review Date: April 2023
Endorsed by the following CAG organizations: