Police in Waterloo Region are out with a warning after a video of an electric kick-scooter rider, weaving in-and-out of traffic on a busy highway, started making the rounds on social media. The video was shared by the Waterloo Regional Police Service on Thursday. It showed the e-scooter operator travelling on Highway 7/8 in the Ottawa Street area. “This video captures an e-scooter travelling at an excessive speed on the expressway alongside full-sized vehicles,” the post from police said. The e-scooter rider was also seen weaving between vehicles to change lanes. Although highways fall under the jurisdiction of Ontario Provincial Police, Waterloo Regional Police confirmed e-scooter riders must adhere to many of the same rules cyclists do. A provincial pilot program states e-scooters cannot exceed a maximum speed of 24 km/h. It also says riders cannot be on controlled-access highways, including the 400-series or QEW. If a municipality allows the use of e-scooters on other highways, the scooter can only be used in a bicycle lane or, in the absence of one, along the right shoulder of the highway or as close to the edge as possible. Penalties for violations can range from $250 to $2,500.
