where are e-scooters allowed in metro vancouver? what you should know about electric kick scooters
5 minute read
not all municipalities welcome e-scooters. here's what you need to know about e-scooters in metro vancouver.
nick procaylo
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10111634a
e-scooters are everywhere and there’s often not a single helmet in sight.
with what appears to be an increasing number of e-scooter collisions making headlines lately, it may have you confused about whether or not e-scooters are safe and if they’re even allowed.
here’s what to know about e-scooters in b.c. and where they’re permitted.
are electric kick scooters allowed in b. c.?
yes. as of july 2026, b.c. is in year 3 of a four-year pilot project that permits electric kick scooters in participating municipalities. the current project follows an earlier pilot that ran from 2021 to 2024 and continues the process of gathering key data around the use and safety of e-scooters.
the results of the pilot project will help the province determine “whether electric kick scooters should be authorized for permanent use in b.c.”
the key thing to note is that only municipalities participating in the pilot project allow for legal e-scooter use. if your municipality isn’t on the list, that means e-scooters are illegal there. (scroll down for the full list of participating municipalities.)
what are the rules around electric kick scooters? how old do i have to be to ride one?
when the pilot project was introduced, the province also introduced legislation under the motor vehicle act on how e-scooters would be regulated. this includes rules on where they can be used, what types of e-scooters are allowed, and also age requirements.
participating municipalities have also set their own guidelines for e-scooters that work in conjunction with provincial laws — so you’ll need to check your specific municipality as well.
that said, a licence or insurance is not required for an e-scooter in b.c. but you do need to be at least 16 years old to operate or ride one. helmets, of course, aren’t just smart but also legally required, same as if you were on a bicycle.
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under the province’s guidelines, e-scooter users “have the same rights and duties of a vehicle … under the motor vehicle act,” according to the province.
“this means you must follow general rules of the road and obey traffic control devices that apply to drivers.”
here’s a few safety rules for e-scooters:
• you must be 16 years of age or older.
• you cannot ride e-scooters on sidewalks or in crosswalks, unless a sign or street sign allows for it.
• use a bell or horn, as well as turn signals.
• you must ride single file, unless passing.
• approved safety helmets are required when riding e-scooters.
• only single riders are allowed; no doubling or towing permitted.
• no impaired or distracted driving is permitted. put the phone away!
• no “hook” or “u” turns. (at intersections, you must pass through the intersection, stop and turn left 90-degrees, then proceed across the road when traffic allows.)
• you cannot ride e-scooters on sidewalks or in crosswalks, unless a sign or street sign allows for it.
• use a bell or horn, as well as turn signals.
• you must ride single file, unless passing.
• approved safety helmets are required when riding e-scooters.
• only single riders are allowed; no doubling or towing permitted.
• no impaired or distracted driving is permitted. put the phone away!
• no “hook” or “u” turns. (at intersections, you must pass through the intersection, stop and turn left 90-degrees, then proceed across the road when traffic allows.)
breaking any of these rules could result in a fine of up to $109, possible penalties of up to $2,000, and having your e-scooter impounded.
what types of e-scooters are allowed?
with the explosion of popularity, there’s no shortage of options on the market if you’re looking to buy your own e-scooter. however, the province does have guidelines for the types of e-scooters that are permitted.
according to the province, only e-scooters who meet these requirements or have these features are allowed:
• handlebars for steering with a platform for standing (but no seat or enclosure)
• one or two front and rear wheels, no more than 430 millimetres in diameter, located along a longitudinal axis
• one or more electric motors powered by batteries with a continuous power output rating no higher than 500 watts
• weighs no more than 45 kilograms, including motors and batteries
• maximum speed of 25 kilometres an hour on clean, paved surfaces
• braking system that can halt travel at maximum speed within 7.5 metres
• motor must stop when the accelerator is released or brakes applied
• bell or horn for alerting pedestrians and other road users
• front and rear lights that must be on between sunset and sunrise
• one or two front and rear wheels, no more than 430 millimetres in diameter, located along a longitudinal axis
• one or more electric motors powered by batteries with a continuous power output rating no higher than 500 watts
• weighs no more than 45 kilograms, including motors and batteries
• maximum speed of 25 kilometres an hour on clean, paved surfaces
• braking system that can halt travel at maximum speed within 7.5 metres
• motor must stop when the accelerator is released or brakes applied
• bell or horn for alerting pedestrians and other road users
• front and rear lights that must be on between sunset and sunrise
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source: motor vehicle act.
if you’re not ready to buy, some municipalities will have shared e-scooter options available, such as lime. these companies will have cleared municipal requirements before being permitted to install docking stations and allowed to operate in these cities.
can i ride my e-scooter on the road, in bike lanes or on sidewalks?
under the provincial guidelines, here’s where you’re allowed to ride your e-scooter in participating municipalities.
• on roads with speed limits up to 50 kilometres an hour: you can ride in a designated bike lane if there is one or stay as far right as you safely can.
• on roads with speed limits over 50 kilometres an hour: you can ride in a designated bike lane. you cannot ride on the road or on the shoulder.
• obey all signs and signals when you ride: you must follow all signs, traffic lights, and any other traffic control signage.
so which municipalities in metro vancouver legally allow e-scooters?
in metro vancouver, only communities participating in the province’s e-scooter pilot project allow for e-scooters legally.
here’s a list of metro vancouver-area municipalities and whether or not e-scooters are legally permitted:
abbotsford — no
anmore — no
belcarra — no
bowen island — no
burnaby — yes
• more information available here.
• more information available here.
delta — no
langley city — no
langley township — yes
• more information available here.
• more information available here.
lions bay — no
maple ridge — no
mission — no
new westminster — no
north vancouver (city) — yes
• more information available here.
• more information available here.
north vancouver (district) — yes
• more information available here.
• more information available here.
pitt meadows — no
port coquitlam — no
port moody — yes
• more information available here.
• more information available here.
richmond — yes
• more information available here.
• more information available here.
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surrey — no
squamish — yes
• more information available here.
• more information available here.
vancouver — yes
• more information available here.
• more information available here.
west vancouver — yes
• more information available here.
• more information available here.
white rock — no
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