The City of Mission is asking residents for feedback on e-scooters as it considers joining a provincial pilot program.
A new survey on engage.mission.ca invites locals to share their opinions on a potential project to legalize e-scooters in Mission. The results will guide city council in deciding whether to participate.
Mission would join more than 30 communities across British Columbia taking part in the pilot, which runs from April 2024 to 2028. The provincial program will determine if e-scooters should be allowed permanently in the province.
The survey asks residents about their personal use of e-scooters, where they should be allowed if legalized, and whether they would start riding one. Council will review public feedback alongside input from the RCMP before making a final decision.
City staff first presented the e-scooter pilot report in April. Council decided to delay approval until public input and RCMP consultations were completed.
Currently, e-scooters are illegal in Mission because the city is not part of the pilot program. Despite this, summer 2024 traffic counts on the 7th Avenue Greenway found that 23 percent of wheeled transportation was made up of e-scooters.
“Even though e-scooters are currently illegal in Mission, people are still choosing to use them,” the report stated.
The provincial pilot allows e-scooters in bike lanes but prohibits them on sidewalks and roads with speed limits above 50 km/h where no bike lane exists. Riders must be at least 16 years old and wear helmets.
RCMP input included in the April report noted that current staffing levels in Mission are not sufficient to enforce e-scooter rules or manage the extra workload from potential violations. Mission’s chief administrative officer, Mike Younie, told council that the RCMP would not conduct active enforcement on e-scooters, focusing instead on distracted driving, impaired driving, and speeding.
The city aims to use survey results to better understand residents’ views and potential impacts before deciding whether to join the pilot. Public participation is critical as Mission evaluates the safety, benefits, and challenges of legalizing e-scooters.
Residents can complete the survey online through engage.mission.ca. The feedback will be compiled and presented to city council to support a final decision on participation in the provincial pilot program.
With growing interest in alternative transportation and sustainable travel, Mission’s decision could influence whether e-scooters become a permanent feature in the city’s streets and bike lanes. The council wants to balance safety, enforcement, and convenience as it considers this potential shift in local transport policy.
