Toronto police are launching a two-week safety enforcement campaign targeting micromobility vehicles, including e-bikes and e-scooters.
The safety campaign will run from now until Aug. 24, Toronto police said in a news release issued Monday.
“As increasingly more people use these vehicles, education and enforcement are more important than ever as we approach the back-to-school season,” the news release read.
The campaign, according to police, aims to increase awareness of the city’s regulations for micromobility vehicles or “rideables,” including bicycles, e-bikes, cargo bikes, mopeds, and e-scooters.
Police said there have been 514 reported collisions involving micromobility vehicles in Toronto so far this year, including two fatal crashes involving e-scooters.
Officers will be focused on illegal sidewalk riding, wrong-way riding in cycle tracks, illegal e-moped use in cycle tracks and illegal parking in bike lanes.
Police note that while purchasing or owning an e-scooter in the City of Toronto is permitted, they are not allowed on public roads, sidewalks, bike lanes, cycle tracks, or trails within the city.
“Enforcement will take place on roadways, bike lanes, cycle tracks, sidewalks, crosswalks, and other areas where micromobility vehicle activity is common,” police wrote.
“Officers will use the Highway Traffic Act, City of Toronto bylaws, and other applicable legislation where appropriate.”
The campaign follows a similar safety blitz that ran last year that lead police to issue about 3,500 tickets over a two-week time period.
“The Toronto Police Service reminds all road users that safety is a shared responsibility,” the news release concluded.
“Whether driving, cycling, riding an e-bike, using another micromobility device, or walking, making safe and lawful choices helps protect everyone on Toronto’s roads.”
