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Kelowna’s e-scooter saga will soon have another chapter.
Following the success of the DropBike in 2018, Kelowna rolled out a controversial e-scooter program the following year.
The program drew criticism from councillors due to concerns surrounding the safety and practicality of e-scooters.
A major factor in the program’s lack of success was a provincial law prohibiting the vehicles on public streets, thus restricting the e-scooters to select pathways around the city.
However, earlier this month, the BC government announced that Kelowna, along with five other communities, had been selected for the Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project, enabling participating municipalities to enact bylaws allowing e-scooters to operate on public streets.
The pilot project will permit e-scooters on public streets for the next three years, but only if Kelowna city council also agrees to the new bylaw on Monday.
If approved, Kelowna’s e-scooter program will also see some changes, with a push to promote helmet use and riding etiquette.
Monday’s council meeting could result in e-scooters rolling out on local streets as soon as April 19.
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