Calgary E-Scooter Changes Coming to 17 Avenue S.W.
Calgary’s popular e-scooter program is set to undergo some changes on 17 Avenue S.W. in an effort to improve safety and accessibility for riders and pedestrians.
The changes, which were announced by the City of Calgary on Tuesday, will see the implementation of designated parking zones for e-scooters along 17 Avenue S.W. These zones will be clearly marked and will help to reduce clutter on sidewalks and ensure that e-scooters are not blocking pedestrian pathways.
In addition, the speed limit for e-scooters on 17 Avenue S.W. will be reduced from 20 km/h to 15 km/h. This change is aimed at improving safety for both riders and pedestrians, as well as reducing the risk of collisions.
The City of Calgary has also announced that e-scooters will no longer be allowed to operate on the sidewalk along 17 Avenue S.W. Instead, riders will be required to use the designated bike lanes or ride on the road with other vehicles.
These changes come after a successful pilot program in 2020, which saw e-scooters being used by over 200,000 riders and covering a total distance of 1.3 million kilometres. However, the program also saw an increase in complaints about e-scooters being left in inappropriate locations and riders not following traffic rules.
The City of Calgary hopes that these changes will address these concerns and create a safer and more organized environment for e-scooter use on 17 Avenue S.W.
“We want to ensure that e-scooters are a convenient and sustainable mode of transportation for Calgarians, while also prioritizing the safety of all road users,” said City of Calgary Transportation Manager, Eric MacNaughton.
The changes are set to take effect on May 1, 2021, and will be in place until the end of the e-scooter season in October. The City of Calgary will be monitoring the impact of these changes and will make adjustments as needed.
In the meantime, riders are reminded to follow all traffic rules and to park their e-scooters in designated zones to avoid any potential fines.
With these changes, the City of Calgary hopes to strike a balance between promoting the use of e-scooters as a sustainable mode of transportation and ensuring the safety and accessibility of all road users on 17 Avenue S.W.
