Micromobility is a term for small, low speed, light weight vehicles - including bicycles, cargo bikes / trikes, folding bikes, electric two / three / four-wheeled cycles, electric kick-scooters (e-scooters), e-mopeds, and electric mini-cars. Their use / ownership may be personal / private, shared / rental, or commercial / corporate (e.g. for deliveries). In July 2023, Council requested a strategy to address growing micromobility usage and its safe operation within the city. Council also requested that staff recommend whether to opt in to additional pilot projects under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. To inform this report, Transportation Services staff reviewed other jurisdictions and conducted extensive public engagement, and consulted internally with over 20 City Divisions, agencies, boards and commissions. This report outlines key policy goals for the strategy and the criteria against which new micromobility opportunities are assessed: these are safety, mobility, the environment, equity and inclusion, health and public health, economic vitality, costs and liability. Staff previously recommended, and Council adopted, participation in two Ontario Highway Traffic Act pilot projects: 1) cargo power-assisted bicycles (2021) that are widely applicable for family use / commuters and for parcel deliveries by companies (such as Fed Ex and Purolator) and 2) large quadricycles (2022). In 2021, based on staff recommendation, Council declined opting in to the e-scooter pilot. This report assesses the opportunities for the low-speed vehicles pilot, and again for e-scooters. Applying the criteria, staff recommend opting in to pilot low-speed vehicles and continuing to decline to opt in to the e-scooter pilot. Any potential benefits of an e-scooter pilot appear to be outweighed by negative impacts on injuries to riders and non-riders, costs and liability to the City, and mode shift (mostly replacing walking and public transit). The proposed strategy emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to ensuring micromobility safety, including the importance of safe infrastructure, its design and maintenance. Public engagement and collaboration with external and internal partners will also be key to address micromobility safety and food delivery industry issues, such as safe riding and battery fire prevention. Licensing micromobility is not recommended as the City does not have the powers under the City of Toronto Act, 2006 to license couriers, as well as several other reasons including jurisdiction, cost, ineffectiveness and impacts on environmental and equity goals. Key next steps are a concerted public education campaign on the rules for micromobility in Toronto — and involvement of federal and provincial governments in supporting micromobility.
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