E-Scooters in Barrie: Ride or ban?

The City of Barrie launched a survey about possibly creating a bylaw to allow e-scooters on roads, trails and sidewalks.

The City of Barrie is asking residents to weigh in on whether electric kick-style scooters, better known as e-scooters, should be allowed on local streets, sidewalks and trails.

Did you know it’s illegal to ride e-scooters on city property or in public rights-of-way?

It’s true, at the moment, e-scooters can’t legally be used on roads, sidewalks or trails in Barrie.

Still, officials say residents are already riding scooters around the city, and stores across Ontario continue to sell them, prompting the city to explore new rules.

E-scooters are small, electric vehicles with two wheels, a standing platform and a handlebar for steering. They run on a motor of up to 500 watts and can travel as fast as 24 km/h on level ground.

The review is tied to a provincial pilot program by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation which gives municipalities the option to test out e-scooters on city roads by creating local bylaws that set limits on where and how they can be used. The aim is to see how the scooters fit into the broader transportation system, while keeping safety in mind.

City staff will use public feedback to prepare a report for council, which may include recommendations on whether Barrie should opt into the provincial pilot.

Residents are encouraged to share their thoughts through an online survey. The survey closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 1.