A CLOSER LOOK
/E-scooting down Davie. (James Oakes Photo)
E-BIKES AND SCOOTERS
The Pros & Cons, Hazards & Solutions
by John Streit
With summer edging closer and pandemic rules generally in the rear view mirror, the West End is already seeing an influx of people coming down to enjoy all that our 50,000-plus resident neighborhood, parks and beaches have to offer. For example, Eco Visio people counter stats in April from nine locations provided to the West End Business Improvement Association show over 1.4 million pedestrians walked by the machines, an increase of 28 percent over 2021. Foot traffic at the Listel Hotel on Robson Street is up 67 percent, while the Home Hardware on Davie saw a 32 percent uptick.
However, not everyone is only walking or rolling (wheelchairs, mobility scooters) these days, with electric bikes, scooters and other alternative forms of micromobility being added to the complex, bustling and tightly-packed mix on streets and sidewalks.
Mark Teasdale is a Vancouver photographer who regularly posts his spectacular shots on his Twitter feed to more than 5,000 followers. He lamented recently how food delivery workers were zooming around downtown Vancouver in a rainstorm without lights and dressed in all black, with no requirement for a driver’s licence, calling it “crazy and dangerous. “
Food delivery worker in Vancouver. (Thomas Thivener Photo)
“When you start up any company, especially a new tech app company, there are so many issues to work out that it can be overwhelming” he says. “The first time you do things there are lots of fails and learning what not to do. I got that. I think companies need to stop looking at their app/clients and need to start to look into the safety of their contractors. These companies are wrecking it for all of us that have ridden this city for a lifetime,” Teasdale says.
He’s an avid cyclist and doesn’t want more rules and insurance for recreational riding. “But when you give a kid a job not knowing the road rules and they race from one spot to another there are going to be problems. New fast scooters are forcing rules and insurance issues for all of us and I am not happy about it. Yep, it’s going to get worse. My son is in his 20s and his friends have got $500 scooters. Entry level is low now that they are not all $5,000. Most people his age can’t afford a car like when I was a kid, so they go scooter,” he says.
Kareem Marie is a food delivery app worker. He is a recent immigrant to Canada from Syria who was originally sent out to Kelowna but felt Vancouver was a better fit. TWEJ readers may remember Marie from a previous article when he discussed having his bike stolen. He started doing UberEats and DoorDash deliveries on his e-bike a month after his quarantine period and still does it on occasion while he searches for a more permanent job.
“An E-Bike is incredibly important to have instead of a regular bicycle; the food remains shake free, you have minimal to no effort fighting your battles uphill, and are much quicker and more efficient in delivering,” Marie says.
We asked what he sees out there while delivering your favourite Korean chicken, sushi or pizza.
“The most important factor for safety is being incredibly aware on the road and watching out for reckless and selfish drivers. Scooters are a hazard to cyclists and pedestrians. Most of the riders pay no attention to the law or traffic lights and they ride on the sidewalks all the time. It is not from a driver's perspective only but as a pedestrian too,” he says.
Marie shares Teasdale’s concerns about what’s happening in the burgeoning food delivery industry. “Food companies are not really concerned with safety at all, they provide some tips when you sign up and an agreement and that's all. Literally no other communication. Their attention is focused on profit making rather than paying money, if you know what I mean,” Marie believes.
He adds the industry is becoming saturated with riders, scooters, drivers and walkers.
“The simplest way I can put it now is that between October 2020 and July 2021 we used to have an average four to five orders per driver and now we have to compete with four to five drivers for one order. Companies force the wage to be paid by customers as tips or gratuity and it is a chicken and egg game where drivers won't pick up an order for $3 for five kilometres as the tip is showed upfront. Then customers would complain to Uber, asking why their food isn't being picked up because they are not obligated to pay tips.
Construction worker on an e-scooter in Vancouver.(Thomas Thivener Photo)
“But, Uber/DoorDash/Skip aren't really concerned with that dent of complaints and they do anything in their power to get more drivers on the road because they only pay for picked up orders, so if the market is saturated with drivers/riders it is no issue to them if we don't get pick-ups. The more riders/drivers, the higher the chance of all orders being eaten-up,” he says.
On the DoorDash website, the search is always on for new workers where it’s “Your time. Your goals. You’re the boss.” Requirements include being 18 or older, have a car, scooter or bicycle, a driver's licence number and consent to a background check. The company also writes that all “Dashers” receive the “appropriate safety training.”
The City of Vancouver is in the middle of a three year e-scooter pilot project in cooperation with the province. Vancouver is one of six municipalities participating. During the pilot, e-scooters are only allowed on local streets and in protected bike lanes. It does not include any type of rental or shared electric scooters. According to the City, electric kick scooters may not be ridden on sidewalks, major streets, or the seawall. Official device requirements include a motor that does not move the device faster than 24 km/hr, motor power output not exceeding 500W, a braking system, lights if operating between sunset and sunrise, and users must wear a helmet and be 16 years of age or older.
The City says e-scooters by-laws are enforced by the Vancouver Police Department. Constable Tania Visintin says over the last year they have received several complaints concerning e-scooters.
“It seems the increase in complaints is correlated with the nicer weather and more people being outside. We are currently working with the City concerning the future of all things electric on the roadways and how we can ensure the safety of everyone. We continue to educate those we see on the road where their actions are deemed unsafe.”
Lime e-scooter in Richmond (Lime photo)
To report the misuse of electric scooters, you’re asked to contact the VPD’s non-emergency line at 604-717-3321.
It’s obviously not just food delivery workers using micromobility forms of transportation to get around. Regular folks are buying and renting e-scooters and e-bikes where available. Lime is billed as the world's largest shared electric vehicle company.
Lime e-scooters and bikes can be found in many cities already and the company is making inroads in Metro Vancouver. The company says all you have to do is find an available e-scooter, download the Lime app, follow local helmet laws, step on the Lime-S scooter and kick forward, press down the throttle to accelerate and you’re off! Lime scooters come with a hand brake. After you’re done, you’re asked to park your scooter safely for the next person to use.
Lime just launched in Richmond while running e-scooters in Kelowna and e-bikes on the North Shore. Derek Robertson is senior manager of government relations with the San-Francisco based company. “E-scooters provide a safe, affordable, and sustainable way for people to get around cities and they are an excellent way for cities to meet their climate goals and transportation needs. Vancouver declared a climate emergency and set a goal to achieve two-thirds of trips by active transportation, and the only way it will meet that goal is by providing residents with much needed options, like micromobilty. E-scooter sharing programs extend the reach of existing transportation networks, greatly improving last and first-mile connectivity. In addition, we focus on equity when we deploy our e-scooters and also when we create our pricing, including significant discounts to those who may need help getting around via our Lime Access global equity program,” he says.
E-scooters for rent in Vancouver. (James Oakes Photo)
Robertson dispels some of the concerns people have expressed about e-scooters, including being unsafe and too fast for generally inexperienced riders. “Safety is paramount at Lime and it is the foundation of the hundreds of successful e-scooter sharing programs we've built around the world. Lime riders have taken millions of rides on our vehicles and over 99.999% of them are completed safely. We proactively communicate with our riders on how to obey the rules of the road, ride safely, and park responsibly, and we hold in-person First Ride Academy safety events so new users can learn how to use our vehicles with confidence. In Richmond, we've partnered with Hub Cycle to host these events, offering some local transport advocacy expertise. We have an excellent safety record around the world, across Canada, and here in British Columbia and the Lower Mainland,” he says.
With Richmond and the North Shore already onboard, Robertson is hoping West Enders will be riding Lime e-bikes or e-scooters next.
“We absolutely hope to be in Vancouver someday soon, and the truth is if Vancouver doesn't act this year the city runs the risk of falling behind other cities in Canada and peer cities around the world. We are working with our partners in government and in the community to help the city lay out a framework for micromobility that will ensure safety for riders and non-riders alike while helping Vancouver achieve its ambitious climate goals. We hope and expect the Council to take action on this front soon,” he says.
Thomas Thivener is with the Watt Consulting Group. He has 17 years of planning and engineering in the US and Canada and has developed expertise in the fields of active transportation and micromobility. Four years ago as a municipal employee with the City of Calgary, he led the development of an e-bike and e-scooter pilot. A decade ago and also as a municipal employee, he co-founded Cyclovia Tucson, an open-streets event that involves street closures, and different forms of street activation.
Thivener believes e-bikes and e-scooters are very important as transportation choices. “They, and other forms of micromobility, have emerged onto the scene in just the last few years and have enabled much of the population to have choice and access to dozens of different types of small vehicles that have a small battery and electric motor, and wheels to help people get around town. These devices are not only quick and nimble but they are also affordable and sustainable.
“They are so easy to get now that all you have to do is walk into any big box or drug store and they will have a dozen different vehicles starting around $500 and going up to around $3,000. Since the majority of trips that people take are less than five kilometres long, this represents an opportunity to make short trips sustainable and healthy. Even though you are being assisted by a battery and motor you still get exercise. The assistance you get just helps you get to a top speed of 25 to 32 km/hr faster and makes those hills seem like ant hills.
“The other benefit that these bring are the ability to save time. Since switching to an e-bike last year, I find that I get to where I am going about 20 percent faster than on my regular bike. My daily 25 minute commute is down to 16 minutes. Based on these facts, coupled with the rise in costs around driving, I see tens of thousands of people making the switch and adding one of these to have as an option to driving if not going exclusively to one of these, at least for short trips. In fact they already are. Recent data from the SFU CHATR lab showed last year that 13 percent of people in Metro Vancouver owned an e-bike or other form of micromobility,” he says.
People snapping up these new vehicles at Canadian Tire, Best Buy and London Drugs is one thing, but is the current city infrastructure able to handle the influx of new riders? Thivener says progress to improve streets to actually make them safe and comfortable to bike or scoot is very slow.
“And regionally it’s even slower because municipalities lack the staffing and capital funds to tackle this. Sometimes municipalities are short on political will. You see this all too often. People will often ask for a wider pedestrian realm, protected bike lanes and basic car access and some car parking, but what ends up being designed or built is something out of a roadway designers playbook from 1960, rather than designed for the environment that we want to have. Amsterdam and Copenhagen are often brought up because they have transportation systems with lots of choice. The other reason they are brought up is they made some difficult decisions during the 1970’s oil crisis to redesign their roadways. You can’t find a major street over there (arterial, collector, or commercial) that isn’t safe and comfortable to walk/bike/scoot on,” he says.
Thivener says the City of Vancouver hasn’t yet altered high streets like Davie, Denman and Robson.
“We are bound to see more people riding on the sidewalks as a result of not having lanes to separate people travelling 30 km/hr from those walking five km/hr. Some cities have the political will, but the lack of funding is holding them back. The province dishes out about $14 million a year in grants to improve active transportation infrastructure, but that becomes a trivial amount when you understand how big our province is, how much infrastructure is poorly designed, and how much infrastructure costs.
“That’s roughly the same cost the city spent making 1.5 km of Richards Street into a “Complete Street”. He’d like to see the city dedicate more staff and funding to redesigning commercial corridors and other major streets to focus better on the needs of micromobility, and people walking. “It seems to always get bumped by the need to move cars, trucks, and have plenty of parking,” Thivener adds.
In the meantime, some immediate measures he’d love to see include boosting the Mobi bike share fleet to include e-bikes at all SkyTrain or Seabus stations, installing secure parking in older parts of the city to reduce theft, and requiring secure micromobility parking with new development.
So what about enforcement and education? How do you handle e-scooter riders blowing through the stop signs at Nelson and Bute, or e-bikers flying through the serenity of the Bute Street Plaza?
“People break rules when they bike, scoot, walk, and drive. It’s a given and society seems to accept a degree of it. Education can help reduce friction and it’s usually best started at an early age. Our kids not only need to be taught about traffic safety but also about the climate crisis we are in, and the benefits of making the right mobility decision for the trip that they are making. If you can get through to kids you have the power to change their parents’ habits and themselves when they are adults,” Thivener says.
He doesn’t see e-scooters or e-bikes as fads. “I work downtown and you see them everywhere. People are commuting on them. People are delivering goods on them. People are sightseeing on them. I even snapped a pic of a guy returning by scooter from a day of skiing with his skis and boots in tow. The real question will be what will micromobility look like in another decade? These vehicles are a lot of fun to ride and if gas prices continue to increase I wouldn’t be surprised for the numbers to double. If infrastructure funding and staff resources increase, that number could triple.”
WE ASKED YOU - AND YOU SAID …
On Facebook, The West End Journal asked about your thoughts about the recent explosion of e-scooter/e-bikes in our neighbourhood. Let’s power up and take a ride with your excellent responses!
Eric Budgell: Bikes and e-bikes all belong on the street not the sidewalk. I’m tired of almost being run over by rude inconsiderate delivery persons or others who feel it’s their right to block, race or take up the sidewalks with their bikes. The sidewalks are not built for adults on bikes, so unless you’re a child under the age of five then stay off the sidewalks with your bike or e bikes.
Markku Vuorensivu: Perhaps there needs to be a traffic enforcement team dedicated to bicycles, e-bikes, and other small forms of single or two person transportation. But the main issue would be cost - how to pay for the extra constables, who should probably be on bikes. And not become just additional general duties bicycle police constables. That's the question.
Bernie Steininger: A longtime West Ender, who was in her 70's, was struck by a bike on the sidewalk and knocked over. She broke her hip in this incident and was taken to hospital and never recovered. She died in St. Paul's! Get bikes of all kinds off the sidewalk. Write tickets. This summer will be worse than ever. I was almost struck last year by someone on the e-scooter going at a high rate of speed on the footpath part of the seawall not the bike path. Things are getting crazy!
Shelley Stieler: People are forgetting the senior population. They have enough difficulty as it is, navigating sidewalks and intersections. I notice a lot of people on scooters etc. are not very respectful of their presence. The city spent millions on bike lanes and that’s where they should be. Especially the food delivery guys with the giant boxes attached. They’re some of the worst offenders!
Ken Ritchie: My vote is to ban all traffic on wheels, aside from scooters, from sidewalks. Sidewalks are becoming dangerously unsafe and should only be used by foot traffic and disability scooters. All others, bikes, e-bikes, scooters, delivery guys on bikes with huge backpacks, boarders, should use the bike lanes. Yes, our city was not designed or built to accommodate our present population. It is interesting to intellectualize about changing infrastructure; sadly, that costs money and it takes time to make the necessary changes. Meanwhile, in the interest of moving faster, wheel traffic on the sidewalks has increased and is becoming dangerous, especially for seniors. Years ago the most dangerous folks on the sidewalks were on scooters. Unfortunately; instead of using them to travel at foot speed, safely, curiously, many of those in them seem to feel that they replace the car that they can no longer drive, and should be able to whip in and out between folks who are walking, often yelling at folks to move, or bumping into and clipping ankles at will.
David Young: Yes, too many of them on the sidewalks going too bloody fast. Get off the sidewalks.
David Durnford: In my experience I believe they are dangerous on the sidewalks and move too fast. There are many seniors and people with disabilities in the West End who cannot simply jump out of the way. The rules in this city are unclear and never enforced. Helmets, biking in walking zones, e-scooters on sidewalks, e-bikes going 25kph and everyone ignores pedestrians and crosswalks. Personally, I think if it has a motor then you should have to licence and insure it.
Vera Polonicoff: There are no regulations for bikes or these scooters. At one time in the 70s-80s you had to register your bike and have a licence. How can you identify the person if they knock you down? Drivers of cars need a licence and insurance. The same should apply to bikers. I was nearly knocked down by a biker with a dog on a leash who was riding on the sidewalk. The dog came around me and the leash was behind my knees. The biker was unsympathetic and advised me “to go break a hip” when I challenged him about being on the sidewalk. “Why should he and his dog use the back path” was his rationale. There need to be bylaws in place before someone dies.
Norm Mackenzie: The West End is one of the densest neighbourhoods in North America, and as we've seen recently the streets are once again teaming with locals and visitors. The last two years have seen an exponential rise in the number of e-bikes, and scooters on the streets. There will be a rise in conflict and accidents. They are illegal on sidewalks but what many do not realize is that they also cannot be on any roads with a dividing yellow line. This would include Davie, Denman, and Robson. Side streets only. As far as food delivery companies and the welfare of their employees? There is one where the operators wear dark green rain gear and are on large black e-bikes. As a driver, they are very difficult to see as they blend into the green shrubbery in the background, especially in the rain or on dark days. Not sure how they manage to get liability insurance, or if they even have any. The city should at least make helmets and reflective safety vests mandatory for delivery companies. I certainly think that this is going to become a bigger issue over the summer as incident reports start piling up. The city will have to come up with a more comprehensive plan to deal with this, as the use of e-bikes and scooters will only continue to rise.
Vitalii Vovk: “The issue”?! The only serious issue is that street infrastructure is still lower than the satisfactory level is. The perimeter of Robson, Denman, and Davie will be much more pleasant without regular motor traffic. Lots of extra space for patios, sitting, walking, and cycling, and transit service. Ideally, I’d love to see a streetcar on this route. Of course, emergency and delivery vehicles should be allowed. Often, people will ride on sidewalks because they don’t feel safe on the street.
Matthew Fischer: It’s obvious these machines are here to stay with each becoming a fad until the next one gets released. I’m a huge supporter of them but at the same time recognize it needs governance and rules and regulations with a separate enforcement arm. In high use areas curb lanes need to be designated for them to use with no cars allowed in the curb lane. With proper enforcement rules will be learned and respected.
Grant Mc: Pretty much every intersection where the four-way stop has some person burning through on an electric device and not stopping.
Eva Murray: All things motorized, other than wheelchairs, do not belong on a sidewalk. I would also add that skateboards and rollerblades do not belong on a sidewalk. My comments apply to busy urban streets where pedestrians can be hit.
David Buckley: Summer is just beginning - already I’ve seen two physical fights and an elderly person get clipped and fall to the ground as a result of these inconsiderate scooter operators riding on the sidewalks - and I have yet to see one ever stop at a stop sign.
Bill Hollingshead: I’ve almost been clipped a few times. I’m going to punch one of them eventually.
Mary-Jane Holjak: Think they are great but too many people ride on the sidewalk. Since they are so quiet, they are deadly. Same with bicycles. These are road vehicles please.
Naomi Bennett: This is timely for me, I am always aware and concerned for my safety on the sidewalks. Shouldn’t have to worry about this. Anything with wheels is a vehicle as far as I’m concerned. Get on the road.
Jill Taylor: Some regulation, and perhaps licensing and insurance, will be needed, especially for the heavier e-bikes. It would help if there was stricter enforcement of no bikes etc. on our sidewalks. As a senior it is very scary when they come silently from behind, no bell, no vocal ringy-dingy to warn you. Millions have been spent on bike lanes; those on bikes and scooters should be using them.
Michelle Livingstone: I hate them on the sidewalks. If you're wearing a helmet and are buzzing past at a rate you should be on the road. Full stop.
Don Allison: Love the bikes and scooters but stay off the sidewalks and stay in all the designated lanes. I'm tired of having to move suddenly because some idiot on a bike treats the sidewalks as their own road way. They ride on sidewalks beside bike lanes and I’ve had several close calls of being hit.
Bruce Anderson: Keep them off the sidewalks. I have been hit by a high speed e-scooter rider.
West End Bench Reviews: I love them, glad to see more and more people take advantage of them.
Michael Philip Waddington: Riding on sidewalks, speeding - all careless behaviour. Food riders block sidewalks picking up food. Need rules and fines as someone is going to get hurt.
Click image to enlarge.
LORD ROBERTS SCHOOL FUN-FEST!
Popcorn & Pickles? What?
And that’s just one of the fantastic treats you can enjoy while playing carnival games, bidding on the silent auction, and enjoying the sounds of Ndidi Cascade featuring DJ Lt. Irie.
Come on down Saturday, June 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., as the Lord Roberts Elementary School community invites everyone of all ages to join us in the schoolyard at 1100 Bidwell (between Comox and Pendrell) to celebrate the diversity and dignity of the West End.
Did you know that there was an elementary school tucked in a block up from Denman Street? Lord Roberts is actually the largest elementary school in downtown Vancouver, with over 600 students living, learning, playing, and growing up in our neighbourhood. The student population represents many First Nations and over 26 different countries, including recent Ukrainian refugees.
One of the school’s Indigenous dads will open the event with drumming and singing, the school will unveil its very own orange t-shirt featuring the handprints of the school’s own Indigenous students. There will be some local vendors, and you can even test ride a cargo bicycle with Velo Lifestyle.
It’s Lord Roberts’ biggest fundraising event of the year, and Funfest has something for everyone of all ages – don’t forget about the bake sale, cake walk, and BC Hydro bucket rides!
See you on Saturday!
