E-scooters across Fredericton raise concerns among residents and law enforcement officials
This summer, Fredericton welcomed scooters to the city.
The company behind the vehicle, Move E-Scooter, initially operated in different cities across the Maritimes, such as Halifax, Saint John and Moncton.
Since then, the company has expanded its operations to Fredericton, offering residents the opportunity to get around the city with only spending $0.38 per minute.
However, the new mode of transportation have raised the attention of the Fredericton Police Force.
The group wants to ensure road safety and compliance with municipal regulations.
Ryan MacKay is a fourth-year student at St. Thomas University (STU) who lives off-campus. He believes the scooters around Fredericton might be a useful micromobility option for students.
“It offers a fully different experience for students just to get around … I myself used them before in the past,” he said.
MacKay describes e-scooters as a “convenient” form of transportation, given the fact that it can be a “shortcut” for getting around the city.
Although it might seem like a “unique” way to travel, he addressed there’s a “big abundance” of them scattered throughout Fredericton.
“I've seen them on trails in Marysville. They've lit my path because there's so many of them,” he said. “There's so many that are just left around Fredericton. There's instructions in the app on how you leave them around, but people will just throw them to the ground, or you'll just see them in bushes.”
MacKay acknowledged that even if people are not following rules, the app itself contains a lot of regulations that prevent people from using scooters on private property or places where it is not permitted.
He also mentioned that despite the scooter company having a truck to pick them up where they’re laid out, what’s really “concerning” is where they end up afterwards.
“If you walk from the Marysville Trail all the way to Picaroons on the north side, you'll see between 10 to about 30 on that trail alone,” he said. “How can you get rid of them at the same time?”
On Oct. 2, the Fredericton Police Force launched a new public campaign to inform residents about the rules and regulations for using micro-mobility, such as e-scooters.
Sonya Gilks is the Public Information Officer from the Fredericton Police Force. She said the campaign was created for an "educational" purpose through stakeholder outreach and community engagement.
The campaign provides riders, parents, and retailers with information on the importance of understanding the rules before unnecessary enforcement occurs.
“We want to ensure e-scooters are used correctly in places where they are permitted and not driven on private properties,” said Gilks.
In Fredericton, e-scooters are permitted on certain trails, parks, and bike lanes where it is allowed by municipal by-laws.
Not only does the location matter, but so does the speed at which riders operate any micro-mobility device. According to the campaign, the maximum speed allowed for riders on city trails is 20 km/h.
Gilks emphasized that riders who violate municipal rules and regulations may face consequences.
“Riders who operate e-scooters or electric dirt bikes while being under the influence of alcohol or drugs may face fines,” she said.
Although police officers address violations through enforcement, the campaign aims to educate residents on safety concerns and regulations.
Gilks mentioned that they have received a “great response” from residents since the campaign was launched. People are becoming more aware of safety concerns around the city, especially on city trails.
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