New Shared Micromobility Pilot (e-bikes and e-scooters)

The City is developing a robust performance evaluation plan to review the data collected regularly for each operator. 

Key metrics include but are not limited to:

• Public feedback
• Operational successes/challenges
• Recommendations on program changes or expansions

In addition to operator performance, compliance with City priorities (tidiness, responsiveness, maintenance, etc.) will also be regularly reviewed. Staff will prepare an update to Council at the end two-year Pilot for decision. 

After numerous reviews of best practices and interviews with Canadian municipalities in preparation for this pilot, the City has decided to admit up to a maximum of three operators rather than one operator to provide users with more diverse service options as each operator has different pricing and programing features. It also encourages high quality of service, ensuring the Pilot is user focused. The three operators (Lime, Bird and Neuron) were selected through the City of Vaughan’s Procurement Process. 

The City does not pay the operators; each operator pays annual and other operational fees to operate within the city. The fees collected by the City will be utilized to provide staff and infrastructure support for the pilot.

E-scooters are permitted on bike lanes, cycle tracks, in-boulevard multi-use pathways and on roadways with posted speed at or less than 50 km/h. They are not permitted on sidewalks, trails, park areas or in areas where e-scooters are prohibited. To operate an e-scooter, the rider must meet all Ontario’s e-scooter requirements.

Wheelchairs and medical scooters are designed for people who have limited mobility because of a medical condition or injury. They are considered as pedestrians under the Highway Traffic Act. Under the City’s Traffic By-law 284-94, a pedestrian includes a person in a wheelchair and child in a baby carriage, therefore motorized wheelchairs can travel where pedestrians are allowed, such as sidewalks and multi-use pathways.

E-bikes are permitted anywhere conventional bicycles are allowed, including bike lanes, cycle tracks, in-boulevard multi-use pathways and on most roadways. They are not permitted on sidewalks, trails, park areas or where e-bikes are prohibited. To operate an e-bike, the rider must meet all Ontario’s e-bike requirements.

It is reasonable to expect younger individuals to be more likely to use the shared devices, as they tend to be more open to adopting new modes of transportation and may not yet own personal vehicles. This age group is also at a formative stage in developing long-term travel habits. Recognizing that teens and young adults are the primary users, staff are tailoring outreach and education efforts to better engage this demographic. 

The City has developed a screening process to review parking locations proposed by the operators, including but not limited to property ownership, proximity to transit, accessibility for other users, access to community services and/or commercial uses, and space requirements. 

Yes, requests for additional and/or the removal of parking locations can be provided along with justifications either via the online feedback form or through Service Vaughan at (905) 832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca.  

You can either check the App for the additional parking locations or call the operator for an alternate solution. 

You will need to walk the e-bike or e-scooter back to a “Ride Zone” or call the operator directly if your device is locked out.

You can either contact the operator directly if you can identify the device or take a picture of the device and contact Service Vaughan at (905) 832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca.

No, these are shared devices and shall not be secured using private locks. 

The City of Vaughan is asking to report any unsafe usage of e-bikes and micromobility devices to Service Vaughan at (905) 832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca with the following information: location, date , time, brand of device, description of the situation. 

Ensuring safety for all road users is a top priority. That’s why the City of Vaughan and micromobility operators are working together to educate riders and promote responsible use of e-scooters and e-bikes:

• Hosting pop-up events at community centres and public spaces before and during the pilot program.
  • Offering first-time rider training sessions at these events.
• Distributing rider guides and information packages.
• Sharing safety tips with the public.
• Posting regular safety messages on social media and digital platforms.
• Raising awareness about proper riding etiquette and shared space use.
• Collecting public feedback through digital platforms to improve services and infrastructure.
• Collaborating with operators to adjust device functions, including:
  • Limiting maximum riding speed.
  • Using GPS tracking to ensure devices stay within permitted riding and parking areas.
• Installing additional signage, pavement markings, and parking corrals to clearly indicate where devices are allowed.

The City of Vaughan is asking to report any unsafe usage of e-bikes and micromobility devices to Service Vaughan by phone at 905-832-2281 or email at service@vaughan.ca. When submitting a report, identifying the type of violation helps ensure the issue is handled quickly and correctly. Here’s how to tell the difference:

Common signs to look out for:

• large groups of five or more vehicles placed together inappropriately
• devices blocking sidewalks, driveways, or fire hydrants
• damaged vehicles, such as:
  • flat tires
  • broken or missing parts
  • graffiti or tampering
  • faulty kickstands or locks

User violation

These are related to how a rider parks a device after their trip and typically appear in smaller clusters of one to three devices.

Examples include:

• e-scooters or e-bikes parked across sidewalks, curb ramps, or building entrances
• devices left lying down or tipped over
• services parked in prohibited areas such as private property or parks

Moving violation

These involve unsafe or unlawful riding behavior. Examples include:

• riding on sidewalks (instead of bike lanes or roadways)
• going against the flow of traffic
• ignoring traffic signs or signals
• riding with passengers (e-scooters are for one rider only)
• riding in parks and trails

If you observe any of the above, please report it to Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 with as much detail as possible, including, where possible:

• provider name (Lime, Bird Canada, or Neuron)
• QR code or device ID
• time, date and location
• description of the issue

Feedback can be provided through Service Vaughan at (905) 832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca.  

Shared micromobility devices will be parked at designated parking corrals or bike racks, which can be found via the operator’s App.