E-scooter riding zones expanded in Edmonton

By CityNews Staff

Posted August 8, 2024 11:24 am.

Last Updated August 9, 2024 10:51 am.

Edmontonians will start to see electric scooters and bikes in new areas.

The City of Edmonton is expanding e-scooter and e-bike riding zones into southwest and northeast areas of the city.

Starting Aug. 14, the perimeter of the riding zones will expand to include the following areas: South West to the Anthony Henday, North to 137 Avenue and portions of Castle Downs and East to 50 Street.

More room for e-scooters and e-bikes in Edmonton. @CityofEdmonton announcing new riding zones into the south-west and parts of central/northeast. pic.twitter.com/3yNFBXSzK3

In a statement Thursday, the City of Edmonton said vendors have licenses for public road right-of-way and are able to set their own boundaries within the perimeter. Edmontonians can use the vendors app to see the boundaries and use the DiscoverYEG map to plan a route and view parking corrals.

The City has permitted each vendor to add additional e-scooters and e-bikes to their fleets to service the expanded zones. The City has a 24-hour parking time limit around the perimeter to help prevent end-of-trip parking clutter and to maintain shared micro-mobility access across the city.

Councillor Keren Tang says while it’s great to see the expansion, she has been advocating for the zones to extend into her southeast ward.

“This expansion does not include the southeast which I think is a great candidate for the expansion, given our proximity to the Valley Line in the southeast – I’m a bit disappointed by that. I have lots of questions and waiting on some more answers about, how the expansion was determined by the vendors. What kind of data are they using?”

The decision was made by the city administration as the shared scooters and bikes have been used more than 93,000 in this season. Keren Teng is still hopeful to expand its riding zone to her ward in the future.

“If there’s a way, I would likely to see that happen,” said Tang.

According to The City, shared e-scooters and e-bikes have been used for over 93,000 hours this season.