Delegates at a meeting of Alberta’s municipalities passed a resolution from a Spruce Grove city councillor asking the provincial government to regulate the use of private e-scooters and e-bikes. Brad Mastaler essentially called for a renewal of a resolution championed by the cities of Edmonton and Calgary three years ago about the use of personal micromobility devices, which continue to grow in popularity. “It was an important point for us to renew a resolution and reshape it for today’s realities,” Mastaler told CTV News Edmonton on Thursday during the annual three-day convention being held at the Edmonton Convention Centre. “I was happy to see that it passed with broad support because I think this is an issue that even the small village of Irma, a mid-sized city like Spruce Grove, and cities of Edmonton and Calgary are all experiencing some challenges in public safety and in health. We want people to be safe when they’re using these e-scooters.” The province said earlier this week it’s putting together a potential legislative framework for municipalities to allow people to use their own e-scooters and enforce rules around them. Dylan Bressey, the president of Alberta Municipalities, said he expects to see legislation around e-scooters introduced this fall, with new rules for them by spring. Privately owned e-scooters are not regulated in Alberta and are therefore not allowed to be used on roads or sidewalks, according to the province’s current rules. E-scooters that are available for rent, however, are allowed because ride-share companies that offer them received an exemption. Mastaler said the province needs to “create a consistent set of rules and tools for municipalities to start to regulate and enforce” the use of such devices. “It’s time for the province to really listen to municipalities’ feedback where these have been operating and where people are operating them outside of the provision of the law to find out how best to create the legislation and regulation to make this work for communities,” he said. The City of Edmonton said early this week it knows the province is considering amendments to the Traffic Safety Act, and that city officials have discussed them with provincial counterparts. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Miriam Valdes-Carletti
