E-scooters not allowed on roads, highways in Wood Buffalo, RCMP says in reminder to residents

As e-scooters become more common and available, Wood Buffalo RCMP are reminding people in the region of the rules and regulations surrounding them.

E-scooters have become more popular in Fort McMurray and other cities around the province in recent years. Edmonton has three brands of e-scooters and e-bikes available for rent and use in certain areas of the city.

E-scooters are considered miniature vehicles and come with certain regulations, according to the RCMP.

"E-scooters are not classified as a pedestrian-like mobility aid because they can pose a safety hazard to other pedestrians and cannot be operated on the sidewalks alongside a street or highway," RCMP said in a news release.

"E-scooters can also present an extreme safety hazard when driven on the roadway with other vehicles."

Riders are able to use them without having a driver's licence, registration or insurance, and can pose "considerable liability concerns" in the event of a collision, added RCMP.

Wood Buffalo RCMP want to remind people that while some regions have e-scooter rental programs in place and are exempt to the Traffic Safety Act, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo does not have a program like that.

"Until these regulatory gaps are closed, e-scooters are prohibited on any road or highway within the municipality of Wood Buffalo and can only be legally used on private property or off-road," RCMP said in the release.

E-scooters also cannot be used on sidewalks along a street or highway, RCMP added.

RCMP also offered the following safety tips when using an e-scooter:

More information on the regulations surrounding miniature vehicles in Alberta is available online.