Helmets hitch along for ride
Company to attach safety gear to every scooter
Mark Rastelli says that his business, HFX E-scooters, has had difficulties getting riders to follow helmet regulations.
That’s why they are introducing helmet rentals that will be attached to every scooter around the city.
E-scooters provide quick and easy transportation, and they have rapidly become a booming business around Halifax. However, they have also generated complaints from the community.
Riders using the scooters on sidewalks disturb foot traffic. In addition, there has not been a convenient way to access helmets when riding.
HFX E-scooters opened for the season on March 20. Along with Move Scooters, they are the region’s only e-scooter rental companies, which have been operating over the past two years.
The HFX E-scooters central location on Lower Water Street provides free helmet rentals with use of their scooters, but this means that riders who grab a scooter at other locations cannot easily access helmets.
“Our app and our website highlight the mandatory helmet law in Nova Scotia,” said Rastelli. “But in some cases, riders simply don’t know about it.”
The Motor Vehicle Act in Nova Scotia “requires operators of electric kick-scooters to wear appropriate helmets while operating them.” The M-300 Micromobility Bylaw in the Halifax Regional Municipality also states that they are “only permitted on roadways having a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour or less, and bicycle lanes on any roadway.”
The new helmets will be attached to the e-scooters starting later this season. They will be locked to the scooter, and the app will unlock the helmet for the rider before they begin their ride. When they reach their location, they will need to lock the helmet back onto the scooter.
This new feature may motivate users to stay safe, but it is not a flawless solution.
“It doesn’t deal with the problem of having a helmet that fits properly,” said Rastelli.
“It is also understandable that people may not feel comfortable wearing a helmet that has not been disinfected just before they use it.”
Riders are still encouraged to use their own helmets when riding, as attached helmet rentals are expected to start sometime in June.
Rastelli said that steps have also been taken to deal with riding on sidewalks, and the number of complaints has gone down.
“Our scooters play audio messages when it is locked and unlocked,” said Rastelli.
“When they end their ride, we play a message saying, ‘Please do not block the sidewalk.’ When they start their ride, the message says, ‘Please do not ride on the sidewalk.’”
Halifax resident Jessica King walks to and from work each day. She said she is tired of frequently encountering e-scooter riders on the sidewalk.
“I can’t count the number of times one has almost run into me.”
Despite measures taken to make riders aware of the rules, the company can’t guarantee they will comply.