Coquitlam looks to roll out e-scooter share program

Depending on the proposals that zoom in, Coquitlam may roll out an e-bike and e-scooter share program this year.

The city recently put out a request for proposals in a bid to find a company that can bring a “dockless micro-mobility sharing system” to Coquitlam’s downtown.

The share program would cover a minimum area of 7.24 square kilometres from Lincoln SkyTrain station up to the tip of Town Centre Park and from Pipeline Road to Johnson Street.

The micro-mobility stations would be placed about every 200 metres, according to the city’s request for proposals.

The pilot program is expected to run from May 5 to Dec. 31, 2024. The share program is expected to be launched within 30 days of the agreement with the city, according to the request.

The sharing system is also set to help the city gauge the safety and success of the program by tracking the number of users as well as details about trips.

The pilot

City council approved an e-scooter pilot project last November, with Coun. Teri Towner calling the program: “an evolving form of sustainable transportation.”

E-scooters are meant to boost transit use by serving as a first- and last-kilometre transportation option, according to a city staff report.

Riders must be 16 or older and the scooter isn’t allowed to hit speeds faster than 24 kilometres per hour. Riders do not need a driver’s licence.

E-scooters would be allowed to operate on any city street with a speed limit of 50 km/h or slower, provided they stay either in a bike lane or as near as possible to the right side of the street as possible. E-scooters are not permitted on sidewalks.

On streets with speed limits above 50 km/h, e-scooters would be confined to bike lanes or other multi-use paths.

Fines of as much as $1,000 can be levelled against riders who veer on a sidewalk, ride without a bell, or ride while wearing headphones.