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E-scooter pilot program given green light for Red Deer

May 10, 2021 4:53 PM
(Red Deer, Alberta)

At today’s City Council meeting, Council approved the implementation a two-year electric scooter (e-scooter) pilot project to start this summer, with no limits on the number of companies or e-Scooters that can participate.

Over the past year, several e-scooter businesses expressed an interest in opening in Red Deer, which prompted a more detailed look at Calgary and Edmonton’s pilot programs and the learnings from those municipalities.

The open market option that was approved means there will be no caps on the number of businesses that can apply to the program, or the number of e-scooters the businesses can bring into the pilot. This will allow for the market in Red Deer to determine the demand. 

“We are excited to bring this initiative to Red Deer and test to see if e-scooters are something that our community wants and needs,” said Amy Fengstad, Parking and Licensing Supervisor. “This two-year summer pilot opens the door for new opportunities, with the potential for longer-term options while also providing the opportunity for businesses to explore the Red Deer market.”

Administration will advertise the pilot program for a quick implementation, with the expectation to have approvals granted by June 11. The successful applicants could launch when they have received their approval or are fully ready to roll out their program.

The pilot will run from July 1, 2021 until October 31, 2023 for the summer months. Through public feedback and data collection, The City will determine whether and under what circumstances e-scooters will be permitted to continue operating after the pilot ends. For the trial period, e-scooters will only be permitted to be used on trails and sidewalks.

Several bylaws also required amendment to accommodate the use of e-scooters in our city, including the Traffic Bylaw, Business License Bylaw, and Parks and Public Facilities Bylaw. These were also given first reading at this afternoons City Council meeting.  

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For more information, please contact:

Corporate Communications
The City of Red Deer

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