The amendment to Bylaw no. 878 on road safety now prohibits the use of MPMDs in public spaces in the borough. Under provincial regulations, MPMDs may nevertheless continue to be used on public roads where the maximum speed limit is 50 km/hr or less, as well as on bike lanes located along those roads. The MPMD category includes e-scooters, e-unicycles and other similar devices.

This measure aims to establish a clear, standardized, easily enforceable rule to reduce conflicts among users and the risk of collisions, in addition to protecting the most vulnerable users of public spaces mainly intended for pedestrian traffic, leisure activities and relaxation.

However, the bylaw provides for certain exceptions, notably for motorized mobility aids, moving a vehicle on foot when its engine is not running as well as for emergency responses and activities expressly authorized by the borough. These exceptions will, in particular, help ensure universal accessibility and allow for necessary public utility operations.

The revised bylaw moreover grants borough council the power to specify, by order-in-council, the locations where MPMDs may be allowed to be used and to establish the applicable conditions.

Within a Québec government pilot project, as it may be recalled, users of e-scooters and other MPMDs on public roads must, for instance:

• be at least 14 years old 
• wear a properly fastened helmet 
• ride at a maximum speed of 25 km/hr
• follow the same traffic rules as cyclists 
• ride in the direction of traffic 

However, at no time are they allowed to:

• transport a passenger 
• use a cellphone while riding 
• wear headphones 
• ride on a road where the speed limit is over 50 km/hr

The borough urges all e-scooter riders to exercise caution and show consideration to help ensure the safety of all users of the road and bike network.

Our public spaces—starting with our parks—are first and foremost places for relaxation, leisure activities, mobility and getting together with others. This bylaw amendment will help provide a safer and more pleasant environment for all users, and especially families in Saint-Laurent, at a time when the growing use of e-scooters and similar devices is giving rise to space-sharing issues, especially in spaces frequented by pedestrians, children, seniors and people with limited mobility.