Manitoba e-scooter legislation changes set to impose speed limit, age restrictions, sidewalk ban

Starting next year, Manitoba residents who ride e-scooters, electric skateboards, hoverboards and unicycles will face new rules. These devices will fall under The Highway Traffic Act. Riders must be at least 16 years old and wear properly fitting helmets. They cannot operate the vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A speed limit of 25 km/h will be imposed, and e-scooters will not be allowed on sidewalks unless signs permit it.

The new legislation aims to prevent injuries, protect children, and make roads safer. Winnipeg's public works committee chair, Janice Lukes, questions enforcement given scarce police resources. Manitoba joins provinces like British Columbia and Ontario that have implemented similar standards. Hospitalizations related to e-scooter injuries have surged by nearly 40 per cent in Canada since 2025, with 837 reported hospitalizations and a tripled rate among children aged 15 and under.

Winnipeg has seen a life-threatening e-scooter incident recently. Winnipeg's first municipal regulations on personal electric vehicles banned them from sidewalks, required helmets, and mandated lights at night, with fines of up to $50 for violations.