Walk Toronto has submitted comments to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee regarding the “E-scooters – Accessibility and Insurance Issues” item that will be discussed at the committee’s meeting this week.
A sub-committee of Walk Toronto focused on accessibility has been working on this issue for many months, and prepared a report for the City of Toronto’s Accessibility Advisory Committee earlier this year on the issue.
We are pleased to see that many of our concerns have been taken on board in the staff report presented to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee. In our communication, we state:
Walk Toronto strongly supports the City staff recommendation that Toronto decline the option to participate in the Ontario e-scooter pilot, known officially as O.Reg 389/19 – Pilot Project – Electric Kick-Scooters. As the staff report notes, accessibility barriers, safety concerns and insurance issues remain unresolved. Walk Toronto is also concerned about impacts on active transportation, costs to the City, business, equity and inclusion issues, environmental considerations, and challenges for enforcement.
