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Behind-the-Wheel

Rules of the road for electric scooters

Scooter pilot extended

B.C.’s electric kick scooter pilot project has been given a four-year extension.

Effective April 5, new rules will come into effect, as the lessons learned in the first pilot project, which began in 2021, are applied.

Electric kick scooters used on our highway must meet all of the following criteria in order to be used legally:

• Handlebars for steering and front and rear wheels (no more than 430 mm in diameter) with a platform in the middle for standing on.

• One or more electric motors powered by batteries with a continuous power output rating not exceeding 500 watts.

• Weight not exceeding 45 kg, including motors and batteries.

• Maximum speed capability of 24 km/h on a clean, paved and level surface.

• A braking system that can stop the device travelling at maximum speed within nine meters. The motor must also stop when the accelerator is released or brakes applied.

• A bell or horn that must be sounded when passing pedestrians and other road users.

• Front and rear lights that must be turned on between sunset and sunrise (Note: Lights may also be worn by the operator).

The scooter operator must be a least 16 years old and operators must wear a helmet that is approved for cycling use. These helmets are marked showing they meet one of the following safety standards—CSA, ANSI, ASTM or SNELL B-95.

A driver's licence, vehicle licence and insurance are not required.

A person operating an electric kick scooter on a pilot project highway has the same rights and duties under Part 3 of the Motor Vehicle Act that apply to the driver of a vehicle.

Other rules include:

• If the road has a speed limit of 50 km/h or less, you must stay on the right side of the road as much as possible or use a designated cycling lane if one is available

• If the road has a speed limit above 50 km/h, you can only use an electric kick scooter if there is a designated cycling lane available

• Use on sidewalks is prohibited unless a sign allows cycles on the sidewalk or in a crosswalk.

• If used on the sidewalk, scooter must not travel at a faster speed than pedestrians except to pass (which requires sounding a bell or horn).

• You must not carry any passengers, tow people or devices.

• You must ride single file. You must not ride beside another person operating a cycle or an electric kick scooter.

• You must indicate whenever you are turning by using hand signals or lighted turn signals if your device has them.

• It is illegal to operate an electric kick scooter while impaired by alcohol or drugs, or when using a cellphone or other electronic device.

Other rules also apply and are set out in the pilot project regulation.

Violation tickets issued under the regulation carry a $109 fine. You may also have your scooter impounded or face other penalties of up to $2,000 if you don't follow these safety rules.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.





Focus is an important skill when driving

Taking wrong cue on road

We take many of our driving cues from what is happening around us when we are in traffic.

If we are paying attention and watching for the correct cues all goes well. Stop paying full attention to the driving task, accidentally take the wrong cue and you can easily cause a collision.

A case in point occurred recently. A car was waiting, first in line at a red light in the left through lane. I pulled up beside it in the right through lane at the same time as the left turn signal we were facing changed to green. Signals for through traffic remained red, as there were vehicles using the oncoming left turn lane.

The driver of the car beside me probably saw the green arrow and my movement in the intended direction of travel in his peripheral vision and decided it was time to go. Something must not have seemed quite right because the driver did not accelerate as quickly as vehicles facing a new green light usually do.

Before moving ahead on a green light the driver should have completed a 180-degree scan of the intersection. That means a scan from left to right and back again to search for hazards.

If he had done that, he might have realized the light was not green for him and we should all know a green light does not always mean go.

Fortunately, the oncoming driver was watching the right cues. He slowed enough so the driver who was beside me did not collide with him, although it was a near miss. The driver beside me should have watched the overhead signal for the lane that he was in. Once he saw the green, he should have looked left, right and left again, to proceed through the intersection only if it was safe to do so.

Not paying full attention to the driving task and catching the wrong cues is an invitation for trouble. Add distractions or impairments to the mix and it becomes even more dangerous.

The ability to focus yourself is an important driving skill.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



Cycling 'crossrides' explained

Crossings for people, bikes

The City of Victoria has rebuilt the intersection of Fernwood Road and Haultain Street to include centre islands, “crossrides,” “sharrows” and a right in, right out (RIRO) restriction for Haultain. This has resulted in confusion among road users leading to collisions.

According to the person who asked me about this, the conflict is caused by cyclists who fail to stop for the stop signs on Hautain and fail to yield to cross traffic on Fernwood.

This RIRO intersection design is meant to reduce motor vehicle traffic by diversion in a quiet residential neighbourhood and make it more attractive as a cycle route. The traffic islands and centre bollard prevents motor vehicle traffic from travelling straight through on Haultain.

The first pavement markings found as you approach the intersection on Haultain are “sharrows.” These announce the cyclist may be using the left side of the lane in preparation for crossing the intersection.

According to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Devices for Canada, the “crossride,” or a series of square markings and cyclist symbols in an intersection, indicates the path cyclists crossing an intersection will use.

Cyclists on Haultain intending to cross Fernwood will approach the intersection using the left side of the lane. They will stop at the marked stop line as required by the stop sign. Having yielded as necessary, they will cross using the crossride for their direction of travel.

Once across the intersection riders will move back to the required position at the right side of the lane.

The cycle lane and crossride may also be used by other modes of traffic depending on the municipality and its bylaws.

Perhaps you've already heard of an “elephant's foot” crosswalk. This is actually a combination of a crossride and a crosswalk. The two may also be marked side by side.

Motorists do have to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, but there is no requirement to yield in the same manner for cyclists in a crossride. That includes when the two are combined.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.





Think about getting home, not just how to get to a party, when you will be drinking

Teen impaired driving

I spoke to a woman this week who was upset at the way the police handled the clearing of an out-of-control party at a residence. Impaired driving was the inevitable consequence of requiring the teens to leave immediately.

She said the officer should have listened to the teen's reasons for not leaving right away and allowed them to decide for themselves.

I will not discuss the officer's decision, but that of those who placed him in the position.

The last time I checked, the legal drinking age in British Columbia was 19. Had the law been followed, the majority of the teens at the party would not have been in this situation to start with.

The Graduated Licensing Program requires its participants have no alcohol in their blood at the time of driving. Why would a teen in the GLP choose to go to a party and consume alcohol knowing they were going to drive away from it at some time during the evening?

The officer did not force the teens to get into their cars and drive. The majority of them had two good legs, and assuming they were parked legally, could easily have walked home and returned to pick up their vehicles the next day. Impaired driving was not required.

They could also have used their cell phones to call for rides.

All the blame, however, must not be placed on the teens. After all, they received permission to use the vehicles involved from their parents. I dare say there is a duty of care placed on the parents whenever they hand over the car keys or sponsor the ownership of a vehicle.

They have a responsibility to try to prevent impaired driving by their teens.

Planning a safe ride home after an event is even more important than getting there in the first place.

Common sense and courtesy toward the neighbours by the party-goers would have allowed them to choose their time of departure as the police would not have been involved.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



More Behind the Wheel articles



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About the Author

Tim Schewe is a retired constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. He has been writing his column for most of the 20 years of his service in the RCMP.

The column was 'The Beat Goes On' in Fort St. John, 'Traffic Tips' in the South Okanagan and now 'Behind the Wheel' on Vancouver Island and here on Castanet.net.

Schewe retired from the force in January of 2006, but the column has become a habit, and continues.

To comment, please email

To learn more, visit DriveSmartBC



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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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