Council for the Municipality of Brockton attempted to clarify their position on e-scooters this week after receiving a letter asking them to overturn the ban on the vehicles.
The Municipality chose not to opt into a provincial pilot program last month that could have permit the use of scooters on certain roads.
Council then received correspondence appealing to overturn the ban, asking instead for more education on responsible use of the vehicles.
Councillor Tim Elphick said they did need to provide more education on the topic, including with the fact that the ban is the province's decision.
"You still need to — if you're operating one of these devices — be over the age of 16 and wearing a helmet if you're under the age of 18," he said. "There does seem to be this idea that young people in our community have been prohibited as a result of council's recent decision, and that is not actually factual. It's a provincial regulation."
The province's e-scooter pilot program runs until 2029, at which point the government will decide if they'll be allowed permanently in Ontario.
The Municipality chose not to opt into the program, citing concerns over the safety of residents, particularly along the downtown sidewalks.
Councillor Steve Trevale said for now there was other options for youth, but the municipality may revisit once the province makes up its mind.
"What the future brings provincially, we can wait and see, it's like any province-wide framework," he said. "Secondly, what folks have for toys or leisure craft in their backyard, that's something of their own risk. Nothing is saying kids can't get on an old-fashioned bicycle to bike downtown. There are rules and safety in place for a bike too, but we just reminded people what was already there, we didn't change anything."
The province defines an e-scooter as a two-wheeled standing device with handlebars, a maximum motor output of 500 watts and a maximum speed of 24 km/h.
