Sobriety tests, longer hours: E-scooters are back, but the rules have changed

Highlights:

• People will be able to ride between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. this year. That's two hours later than in 2023, and one hour earlier.
• Riders will also be barred from taking e-scooters along the Rideau Canal Pathway or the Ottawa River Pathway. The land belongs to the National Capital Commission (NCC), which doesn't allow e-scooters or any vehicle that can't be propelled by a person on the pathways.
• Starting this year, riders will have to complete a sobriety test on the app before accessing the e-scooters after 11 p.m.
• Bird Canada will still be monitoring riders for potential intoxication outside of the restricted hours
• The 2024 season has also started three weeks earlier than last year. It's slated to run until Nov. 15, weather permitting

Also:

The top complaint filed to both companies was e-scooters being parked incorrectly. The e-scooters have been equipped with geofencing technology that warns riders not to drive on sidewalks or dump scooters in unapproved parking areas.

The e-scooters are available to use for anyone over the age of 16 and riders cannot exceed 50 km/h.

Once the season wraps up, the province will then decide whether to make e-scooters a permanent fixture, extend the temporary pilot project, or discontinue them.

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