E-scooters allowed on regional roads as of July 1

E-scooters will be travelling on roads in Waterloo region by this summer.

Region of Waterloo council approved a committee plan Wednesday to allow e-scooters on regional roads with a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour or less, and on roads with boulevard multi-use paths and reserved bike lanes.

A change has been made to the region's traffic and parking bylaw to allow e-scooters onregional roads as ofJuly 1. The cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, along with the townships, will have to pass their own bylaws if they want to follow suit.

The e-scooters will notbe allowed on sidewalks, according to regional plannerKevan Marshall.

During an interview with The Morning Edition - KW earlier this month, Marshall explained the region is following guidance from the Ministry of Transportation, which does not permit the riding of e-scooters on sidewalks.

"We've had conversations with police services and they're similar in support of no sidewalk riding," he said.

The amendment to the region's traffic and parking bylaw also allows the region to develop a "shared micro mobility system." E-scooters could be allowed as possible fleet vehicles in this type of system.