E-Scooters

What you Need to Know About E-scooters

An e-scooter is a two-wheeled, stand-up scooter equipped with handlebars, a floorboard for the rider to stand on, a rechargeable battery, and is powered by an electric motor.

E-scooters are prohibited in the Town of Goderich.

E-scooters are unregulated by the Municipality and not permitted on public rights-of-way under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) – this includes roads, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, multi-use trails and parks.

E-scooter violations are enforced under the HTA, by Ontario Provincial Police.

Municipal By-law Enforcement does not currently enforce violations related to e-scooters. Municipal By-law Enforcement officers cannot stop e-scooter riders to issue tickets. 

According to the HTA, Section 216 (1) and 218 (1), a police officer has the authority to require a driver of a vehicle to stop and provide identification. This authority does not include municipal by-law enforcement officers. 

At the August 2026 Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference, Ontario Minister of Transportation announced that the province is finalizing updated e-scooter regulations. These upcoming rules will address local confusion and rising safety hazards regarding e-scooter operation on public pedestrian sidewalks/walkways, high-speed device modifications that allow e-scooters to travel at unsafe, excessive speeds well past standard limits, reviewing retailer responsibilities and the sale of non-compliant or high-powered illegal micro-mobility devices, and examining broader liability insurance and accountability frameworks.

E-scooters are not safe

Standard Ontario automobile insurance policies generally do not provide personal liability coverage for the operation of an E-scooter. Riders may therefore be personally responsible for injuries or property damage they cause while operating an E-scooter..

Provincial Regulations for E-scooters

E-bikes

E-bikes are permitted on public roads but not on sidewalks, trails, or in parks in the Town of Goderich

• You must wear a helmet while riding an e-bike. 
• In Ontario, you must be 16 or older to ride on and operate an e-bike. Riding an e-bike | ontario.ca
• You must follow the same rules of the road as other cyclists.

When buying an e-bike, it is important for consumers to make sure it meets the provincial government standards.

Visit the Bicycle safety | ontario.ca page for more information.

Mobility Scooters

Mobility scooters and motorized wheelchairs are permitted on sidewalks in the Town of Goderich.

Under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, people using mobility scooters and motorized wheelchairs are treated similarly to pedestrians. The Municipality’s Traffic and Parking By-law also includes an exemption for these devices.

Those using mobility scooters or motorized wheelchairs should use sidewalks where available. If there is no sidewalk, users should travel along the left shoulder of the roadway facing oncoming traffic, similar to pedestrians.

Help keep our roads and sidewalks safe by sharing public spaces respectfully and safely.