Cookies help us to understand how you use our website so that we can provide you with the best experience when you are on our site. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.
Manage Cookies
A cookie is information stored on your computer by a website you visit. Cookies often store your settings for a website, such as your preferred language or location. This allows the site to present you with information customized to fit your needs. As per the GDPR law, companies need to get your explicit approval to collect your data. Some of these cookies are ‘strictly necessary’ to provide the basic functions of the website and can not be turned off, while others if present, have the option of being turned off. Learn more about our Privacy and Cookie policies. These can be managed also from our cookie policy page.
Strictly necessary cookies(always on):
Necessary for enabling core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. This cannot be turned off. e.g. Sign in, Language
Analytics cookies:
Analytical cookies help us to analyse user behaviour, mainly to see if the users are able to find and act on things that they are looking for. They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. Tools used: Google Analytics
Social media cookies:
We use social media cookies from Facebook, Twitter and Google to run Widgets, Embed Videos, Posts, Comments and to fetch profile information.
The province outlined that it is up to municipalities to pass by-laws to permit the use of e-scooters locally and determine where they can and cannot operate.
What is an e-scooter?
E-scooters have battery-powered motors with a platform for your feet and are steered with waist-high handlebars. This MTO pilot project does not address mobility/accessibility scooters, e-bikes, or electric mopeds.
MTO e-scooter rules can be found in the documents under the "Ontario E-scooter Pilot Program" tab under the Photo Gallery and include:
E-scooter maximum speed: 24 km/hr
Minimum rider age: 16 years old (bike helmets required 16-18)
No passengers allowed
Must have brakes, horn/bell, front white light, and rear red light
The Region of Waterloo and the Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo want your input on where people should be allowed to ride an e-scooter in our community.
Staff from the Region of Waterloo and Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo have prepared several options for permitting e-scooters locally. These options range from nowhere (i.e., not permitted in Waterloo Region) to anywhere a bike can go (i.e., any path or roadway other than controlled-access highways).
Your responses will help inform staff reports to City and Regional Councils on if and where personally-owned e-scooters can be ridden in Waterloo Region. Based on the decision of the respective councils, staff will also consider requirements for e-scooter rental companies (scooter-share) that wish to operate in our community.
Please note that the Region and Cities will follow MTO best practice and will not permit sidewalk riding in any scenario. Riding e-scooters on sidewalks can create accessibility issues and presents a greater risk of injury for pedestrians and persons with disabilities.
The province outlined that it is up to municipalities to pass by-laws to permit the use of e-scooters locally and determine where they can and cannot operate.
What is an e-scooter?
E-scooters have battery-powered motors with a platform for your feet and are steered with waist-high handlebars. This MTO pilot project does not address mobility/accessibility scooters, e-bikes, or electric mopeds.
MTO e-scooter rules can be found in the documents under the "Ontario E-scooter Pilot Program" tab under the Photo Gallery and include:
E-scooter maximum speed: 24 km/hr
Minimum rider age: 16 years old (bike helmets required 16-18)
No passengers allowed
Must have brakes, horn/bell, front white light, and rear red light
The Region of Waterloo and the Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo want your input on where people should be allowed to ride an e-scooter in our community.
Staff from the Region of Waterloo and Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo have prepared several options for permitting e-scooters locally. These options range from nowhere (i.e., not permitted in Waterloo Region) to anywhere a bike can go (i.e., any path or roadway other than controlled-access highways).
Your responses will help inform staff reports to City and Regional Councils on if and where personally-owned e-scooters can be ridden in Waterloo Region. Based on the decision of the respective councils, staff will also consider requirements for e-scooter rental companies (scooter-share) that wish to operate in our community.
Please note that the Region and Cities will follow MTO best practice and will not permit sidewalk riding in any scenario. Riding e-scooters on sidewalks can create accessibility issues and presents a greater risk of injury for pedestrians and persons with disabilities.
The Region of Waterloo and the Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo want your input on where people should be allowed to ride an e-scooter in our community. Staff have prepared several options for permitting e-scooters locally (see below).
Your response will inform staff reports to City and Regional Councils on if and where personally-owned e-scooters can be ridden in Waterloo Region. Based on the decision of the respective councils on where e-scooters can go, staff will also consider requirements for e-scooter rental companies (scooter-share) that wish to operate in our community.
The survey should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete and will be available until Monday, February 1, 2021.
Notice of Collection and Confidentiality
Please review the Notice of Collection and Confidentiality for this survey and topic located on the side panel under the "Who's Listening" summary.
Proposed Options for E-Scooters
Option
What would this option look like?
Option 1.
Do not permit e-scooters in Waterloo Region
E-scooters not permitted.
Option 2.
Permit e-scooters on:
Trails and multi-use paths
Example of Uptown Waterloo Network if e-scooters are only permitted on trails and multi-use paths (green). E-scooters would not be permitted on roadways (white)
Option 3.
Permit e-scooters on:
Trails and multi-use paths; and
All roads with reserved bike lanes
Example of Uptown Waterloo Network if e-scooters are only permitted on trails and multi-use paths (green), and roads with bike lanes (pink). E-scooters would not be permitted on roads without bike lanes (white)
Option 4.
Permit e-scooters on:
Trails and multi-use paths;
All roads with reserved bike lanes; and
Any road 50km/hr or less
Preliminary Preferred Option
*Preliminary Preferred Option*
Example of Uptown Waterloo Network if e-scooters permitted on trails and multi-use paths (green), roads with bike lanes and roads 50km/hr or less (pink)
Option 5.
Permit e-scooters anywhere a bike can go:
Trails and multi-use paths;
All roads with reserved bike lanes; and
All other roads (except controlled-access highways)
Example of Hespeler Village Network if e-scooters permitted everywhere a bike can go. This includes trails and multi-use paths (green), bike lanes (dark pink) and all other roads (pink, with higher-speed roads highlighted in yellow)
Where should people be allowed to ride e-scooters in Waterloo Region? is currently at this stage
This consultation is Open for contributions.
Staff report(s) to Region and/or City Councils based on Public Consultation Survey results
this is an upcoming stage for Where should people be allowed to ride e-scooters in Waterloo Region?
Winter 2021
Staff plan to prepare these recommendations in consultation with inter-municipal staff committees and citizen advisory committees (Active Transportation Advisory Committee, Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee).
If permitted, e-scooter permissions for personal use take effect
this is an upcoming stage for Where should people be allowed to ride e-scooters in Waterloo Region?
Winter / Spring 2021
Develop permit process and requirements for e-scooter rental companies (scooter-share)
this is an upcoming stage for Where should people be allowed to ride e-scooters in Waterloo Region?
Winter / Spring 2021 (if companies are permitted)
Staff plan to prepare any requirements in consultation with inter-municipal staff committees and citizen advisory committees (Active Transportation Advisory Committee, Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee).
Region and Cities announce a call for applications for e-scooter share and/or bike share companies to operate locally.
this is an upcoming stage for Where should people be allowed to ride e-scooters in Waterloo Region?
TBD (to be determined). Pending decision on e-scooters permissions and sharing companies.
Permitted e-scooter companies launch systems locally
this is an upcoming stage for Where should people be allowed to ride e-scooters in Waterloo Region?
TBD. Pending decision on e-scooters permissions and sharing companies.
To the extent that the foregoing information constitutes personal information as defined in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, chapter M.56 as amended, the information is subject to provisions of that Act and will be used to collect community feedback on the topics posted on this forum.
Survey information is collected by the Region of Waterloo for the purpose of developing staff recommendations for e-scooter use in Waterloo Region, and will be accessed only by project team members from the Region of Waterloo, City of Cambridge, City of Kitchener, and City of Waterloo. It is collected pursuant to the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O.2001, c.25.
Individual survey responses will be kept confidential. Aggregate survey data may be publicly disclosed as part of a summary report and/or supporting rationale for any policy or service changes that may occur in the future. In certain circumstances, a representative of the municipal project team may follow up with particular individuals and/or organizations for additional information related to the responses they provide.
Questions about the collection of personal information should be directed to: