Local hopes to bring rental e-scooters to GP
A local business owner is asking city council to change its bylaws and advocate to the province to allow e-scooter and e-bike rentals in the city.
Danielle Roscher, owner of Untamed Adventures, said rentals of e-bikes and e-scooters are among the most requested items at the Centre 2000 visitor desk.
“This is a great way to revitalize the downtown core,” said Roscher, noting that the scooters could bring more people to the city’s downtown area without needing much area for parking.
She also noted that students could use the scooters as affordable transportation around the city.
In December, the city amended its parkland bylaw to allow “wheeled conveyances,” which include e-scooters and e-bikes, in city parks.
The bylaw only allows vehicles, such as e-scooters and e-bikes, to be used in city parks and not on sidewalks because such devices are prohibited under the provincial Traffic Safety Act.
Calgary and Edmonton currently have provincial exemptions to the Traffic Safety Act allowing e-scooters and e-bikes to be rented and operated in the cities on sidewalks and roadways.
Red Deer has also recently been provincially exempted and now allows rental e-scooters after running a two-year pilot program.
Roscher hopes the City of Grande Prairie could also get an exemption to allow e-scooters and e-bikes, similar to other Alberta cities, even as a pilot program.
She said her business is ready to start a fleet with 12 e-scooters and 12 e-bikes, noting a smaller fleet will be easier to manage and will ensure scooters are not littered around the city.
Roscher also noted that implementing a pilot program could determine the best safety practices for e-scooters and e-bikes within the city.
She said some municipalities, such as Kelowna, B.C., require riders to prove they are wearing a helmet before riding by providing a photo through the rental app and have both speed and travel limited on e-scooters through tracking software.
She said she plans to have e-scooters available through an app, but added e-bikes would be rented through a storefront but may also be available for monthly rentals for people looking for alternative modes of transportation in warmer months.
Roscher said people would have commuting alternatives other than transit in the warmer months.
The Public and Protective Services committee directed administration to make a report with changes proposed by Roscher.
Roscher said she is hopeful to have her rental business running for the 2025 season.
Jesse Boily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Town & Country News
