Mill Woods is the newest area in Edmonton where shared e-bikes and e-scooters are being introduced.
The expansion, announced by the city on Wednesday, will also serve as a safety pilot project to implement designated riding and parking zones in the area.
“Mill Woods was selected for the pilot because there was strong community interest and because it gives us a great opportunity to test new operating requirements,” Jordana Kulchar, the city’s supervisor of planning and permitting, said in a news release.
Kulchar also cited Mill Woods’ connection to the city’s active transportation network, as well as its narrower sidewalks and fewer boulevards, as part of the reason the area in southeast Edmonton was selected for the trial.
Drawing the lines
The project is introducing designated riding areas in alignment with the city’s active transportation network, a system of bike lanes and shared pathways, aiming to discourage riders from using sidewalks. The designated riding area mandates that micromobility devices, like e-bikes and e-scooters, stick to Mill Woods Road or within 50 metres of recognized bike lanes and shared pathways.
Geofencing, a virtual boundary or perimeter, will be used to enforce the designated areas.
The pilot also utilizes geofencing where riders are allowed to park. If a rider leaves an e-scooter or e-bike outside the corral (parking area) boundary, they will continue to be charged by the micromobility provider. One of those providers is Bird Canada.
Bird is one of two micromobility vendors approved by the City of Edmonton. (Bird Canada)
“The city has marked several locations for parking,” Tyler Zeck, Bird Canada’s western operations manager, told CBC News. “There’s also additional digital corral locations in the Bird app.”
He said the restrictions on parking won’t greatly impact the quality of service, and that Bird is supportive of the new rules and the expansion into southeast Edmonton.
“This is a great blend between making sure the program is still accessible while also taking measures to reduce parking issues and other potential risks,” Zeck said. “I think everyone’s going to be really pleased when it all gets up and running.”
In my opinion, it’s about time
Lime Canada, the city’s second approved provider, echoed the positive sentiments about the expansion.
“We’ve worked closely with the City of Edmonton to design a service that meets the needs of Mill Woods, with a focus on safety, convenience and sustainability,” Zack Genau, senior operations manager at Lime Canada, wrote in a statement to CBC News.
“We look forward to seeing residents and visitors alike make the most of these new transportation options as they move around the neighbourhood.”
The pilot project comes after Ward Dene Coun. Aaron Paquette put forward a motion in the spring to enact changes to the city’s Shared Micromobility Program, and called for the creation of a geofenced parking model for e-scooters and e-bikes.
“To have this pilot starting up in Mill Woods … is actually phenomenal,” he told CBC News on Wednesday.
“It’s a proactive first step, and in my opinion, it’s about time.”
Ward Dene Coun. Aaron Paquette says the changes to micromobility device rules in Mill Woods are “phenomenal.” (Nicole Healey/CBC News)
Paquette cited accessibility concerns from e-scooters blocking walkways as one reason for the changes.
“[For regular users of e-scooters], it’ll be a bit of a new habit to learn, but the upside is that it will make our communities look a little bit better,” he said. “This is going to be actually a benefit for the community.”
Paquette said the city plans to expand the rules to the rest of Edmonton if the pilot proves successful.
The city is also reminding riders to stay safe by sticking to roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h and below, and using shared pathways and bike lanes when possible.
“This is an amenity,” Paquette said. “Use it wisely, be respectful and just enjoy the service.”
The Mill Woods pilot project took effect immediately after it was announced on Wednesday.