E-scooter growing pains in spotlight
The City of Calgary says it’ll look to “tweak” its electric scooter pilot program in response to injuries and backlash over riders who flout the rules.
There have been about 85,000 trips since e-scooters hit the streets earlier this month, with roughly 8,000 riders per day.
Nathan Carswell, manager of the city’s shared mobility program, said there have been just 23 scooter-related calls to the city’s 311 service since the machines first started popping up more than two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Calgary emergency rooms and urgent care centres have reported at least 60 scooter-related incidents coming through their doors since July 15.
Carswell said the city anticipated issues when the pilot program first launched, including riders taking the scooters onto roadways, as well as the machines being used by those under 18.
“When I compare it to the overall utilization and the number of rides, the sheer difference between that (and reported concerns), I would say it’s pretty minor in the overall scheme of things,” said Carswell.
The scooters operate at maximum speeds of 20 km/h. Riders are required to stay on sidewalks, within parks or bike lanes and other designated cycle paths. Helmets are encouraged but not required. Riders must be 18 or older to use the scooters.
But he added that the city is watching closely to see how the scooters are being used.
Dr. Eddy Lang, an emergency room physician with Alberta Health Services, says there have been at least 60 scooter-related emergency room visits at hospitals and urgent care centres in Calgary since July 15.
Lang is leading a study at the University of Calgary’s Department of Emergency Medicine that will analyze the patterns surrounding scooter-caused injuries over the summer.
“We’re going to be able to get some idea of what’s going on by scanning for the term ‘scooter’ in the very excellent notes that our triage nurses record,” he said, adding that one-third of injuries recorded thus far have resulted in fractures, primarily to wrists and elbows. About 10 per cent of injuries have been to the face or head.
Beltline Neighbourhoods Association president Peter Oliver said some of the pushback to the scooter launch has been overblown.
“I don’t buy into some of the negative publicity,” said Oliver. “I think it’s just curmudgeon old people reacting to the world changing, but I think this is where it’s going, whether you like it or not.”
Oliver said the program has experienced “bumps” in its early days that will likely decrease over time as people grow more comfortable with the new form of transport.
Carswell said tickets would be issued for riders caught ignoring the rules or riding in an unsafe manner, especially if under the influence of alcohol.