If it is up to the official opposition, it would be possible to ride an electric scooter in Montreal as early as 2023. After the fiasco of Bird and Lime, the party proposes that everything be managed this time by BIXI.
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"Scooters can be a good alternative for those who are less inclined to take the bike or for those who want to do the last kilometer between the metro, home or work", believes Alba Zúñiga Ramos, spokesperson for the opposition. active transportation official.
She made a public outing on Tuesday to demand that a self-service electric scooter service with anchoring be deployed in the streets of the metropolis.
Ensemble Montréal will table a motion to this effect at the next city council, which will take place on June 13.
“There is the climate crisis right now that we have to deal with, and quickly. We know that cities must adapt and innovate, and in active transportation, this must be done quickly,” insisted Ms. Ramos.
For her, BIXI has already proven itself. She believes that the organization would be able to manage the addition of scooters to its fleet in a safe way for the public, and in compliance with the rules in place.
"By going ahead with a pilot project, it would support a local organization, which is BIXI, and allow it to gain even more momentum, while expanding the mobility offer," he said. she pointed out.
In 2019, the City of Montreal allowed two operators, Bird and Lime, to offer their self-service electric scooter service in the city.
However, the experience was not repeated the following summer, due to their “lack of accountability in respect of parking rules”. Only 20% of the scooters were parked in the places provided for this purpose, the others being scattered across the sidewalks, parks and other public areas of the city.
At the City, it is indicated that the opposition's proposal will be discussed at the next city council.
“We are evaluating the terms and conditions to determine the best avenue to take regarding electric scooters in Montreal. With a view and a real desire to offer more options for active and collective mobility to citizens and tourists, all ideas in this direction are welcome, "explained Marikym Gaudreault, press officer in the office of the mayor. .
