E-scooters return to Ottawa roads for the summer: Here’s what you need to know

E-Scooters parked at the corner of Elgin Street and Wellington Street on Thursday. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa)

E-scooters are rolling out on Ottawa’s roads ahead of the Victoria Day long weekend, kicking off another summer of the e-scooter rental program across the city.

Bird Canada deployed e-scooters for rent at several locations in Ottawa, one day after council enacted the bylaw to begin the shared e-scooter program for 2025. On Friday, Neuron Mobility launched the orange e-scooters for another summer of operations.

Earlier this spring, council approved a five-year extension to allow electric scooters to be used on Ottawa roads, and to continue offering e-scooters for rent through partnerships with Bird Canada and Neuron Mobility.

Under the e-scooter program, e-scooters will be available in the deployment area bounded by St. Laurent Boulevard in the east, Rideau River/Carling Avenue in the south, Churchill Avenue in the west and the Ottawa River in the north. Staff have recommended expanding the deployment zone “incrementally” this year.

Here is what you need to know about the e-scooters in Ottawa:

• E-scooters will be available for rent 24 hours a day, with some restrictions (such as the ByWard Market)
• Riders must be 16 years of age
• Operating speed limit is 20 kilometres per hour. The speed limit is 12 km/h in designated “slow zones”
• For riders under the age of 18, a helmet is required to ride the e-scooter
• Each scooter is only allowed a single rider at one time
• E-scooters are not permitted to operate on a sidewalk

Neuron Mobility says it’s scooters will be available for operation between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m.

Last year almost 55,000 unique riders used the e-scooters in Ottawa, taking approximately 252,000 rides. The city saw an average of 1,200 trips a day on the vehicles. The busiest day was Canada Day, with approximately 3,600 trips on the e-scooters.

National Capital Commission pathways

Electric scooters are not allowed on National Capital Commission pathways along the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal.

According to the NCC’s website, electric power-assisted cargo bicycles for commercial use and electric kick-style scooters are prohibited on the Capital Pathway and pathways.

E-bikes with operable pedals are permitted on NCC pathways.

• NCC: Rules for electric power-assisted vehicles

Prices

Neuron Mobility says the cost to rent an e-scooter for a single trip is $1.15 to unlock the e-scooter and $0.42 a minute to use.

Neuron says its Plus Pass for $4.99 waives all unlock fees and discounts each trip 20 per cent.