The pilot project concerning low-speed electric scooters, authorized on August 29, 2018 and amended on September 9, 2021, sets out rules regarding the use and operation of low-speed electric scooters and restrictions regarding the public roads on which they can travel, as well as required safety equipment.
This pilot project, initially planned for three years, has been extended for a two-year period, until September 13, 2023. Some adjustments have been made, including as regards the minimum age of participants and the public roadways that may be used. The pilot project allows certain low-speed electric scooter models to be operated on some public roads, with eligible participants being primarily employers who wish to make electric scooters available to their employees in order to facilitate their travel.
Pilot Project to Test the Use of Low-Speed Electric Scooters Through Self-Service Rental Services
The SAAQ’s pilot project is different from the one launched by Québec’s Ministère des Transports (MTQ) on July 6, 2019. That pilot project aims to test the use of low-speed electric scooters through self-service rental services. The characteristics of the vehicles, the territories on which they are authorized to be operated and the conditions of participation are not the same. For more information, consult the MTQ website (in French only).
The goals of the SAAQ's pilot project are the following:
to test the use of low-speed electric scooters on certain public roads
to gather information regarding the use of low-speed electric scooters on public roads in order to assess their integration into road traffic, develop traffic rules, and set equipment and design standards for these vehicles
As of October 5, 2018, GEEBEE electric scooters are authorized to be operated on the road network, under certain conditions.
Mandatory training
Users of low-speed electric scooters are required to receive appropriate training for riding such vehicles. This training includes two components. The theoretical component is provided by the manufacturer or distributor. The practical component is provided by the manufacturer, distributor or a third party specially trained by one of them for that purpose. Users who receive the training will be given a certificate attesting to their participation in the training. They must also agree to help gather information for the purposes of the pilot project.
Rules
Anyone who rides a low-speed electric scooter on public roads must comply with the following rules and requirements:
be at least 16 years old and hold a licence to operate a moped or motorized scooter or be 18 years of age or older
have attended the training program required as part of the pilot project
ride only on roads where the speed limit is 70 km/h or less
wear a protective (bicycle) helmet
use the turn signal lights to signal their intentions
obey the Highway Safety Code, as well as the other conditions of the pilot project
have with them the certificate attesting to their participation in the training program
not carry passengers or pull or push any object other than a trailer that meets the following criteria:
the trailer’s width is 80 cm or less, its height from the ground is 1 metre or less, and its length from the coupling device to the rear is 2 metres or less
the height of the trailer’s load from the ground is 1 metre or less, and the width and length of the trailer’s load do not exceed those of the trailer
the trailer, including its coupling device, is not made by hand
the trailer is equipped with either two red reflectors at the rear, placed as far apart as possible, or a red reflective strip placed as horizontally as possible along the entire width of the trailer
the trailer is used without exceeding the towing capability and load capacity established by the electric scooter’s manufacturer or the load capacity established by the trailer’s manufacturer
not use a low-speed electric scooter that has been modified
In the event of an offence
Anyone who fails to comply with any of these rules commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $200 to $300. In the case of Highway Safety Code offences, the usual fines apply.
In the event of an accident
Users of low-speed electric scooters involved in an accident must call for a peace officer if anyone has been hurt or if there has been any property damage.
Injuries sustained in an accident involving a motorized scooter are not covered by the public automobile insurance plan, unless the accident involves a moving vehicle that is covered by the plan.
Definition of a low-speed electric scooter
A low-speed electric scooter is a one-person motorized scooter that is ridden while standing up and has the following characteristics:
It is equipped with 2 wheels placed on the same longitudinal axis whose rim diameter is at least 250 mm; it has a platform between the two wheels that is at least 250 mm wide, at least 300 mm long and at least 150 mm off the ground; and it has a wheelbase of at least 1 m
It has no seat, nor any other surface or structure that could be used as a seat
It is equipped with an electric motor of not more than 500 watts that allows a maximum speed of 32 km/h; it is supplied by a battery that can be recharged by connecting to the electrical grid; and it is equipped with an automatic transmission
It is equipped with a handlebar that acts directly on the steerable wheel
It is equipped with a brake system that acts independently on the steerable wheel and the back wheel using separate hand levers
It is equipped with an emergency stop switch to cut supply to the motor should the scooter’s control system fail
It is equipped with 2 yellow or white turn signal lights placed at the front, 2 red or yellow turn signal lights placed at the rear, or 2 yellow turn signal lights that are visible from both the front and the rear
It weighs no more than 45 kg, including the weight of the battery
It bears the manufacturer’s compliance label and complies with the standards that apply to a restricted-use motorcycle
