By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle
Oliver is hopping on Sparrow Scooters for another four year ride.
The town decided to renew the Electric Kick Scooter Project and support its continued operation for another four years since the project was set to expire on April 5, after a three year ride.
The pilot project was launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to test the use of electric kick scooters in participating pilot communities which included Oliver and Osoyoos.
The province wishes to continue this pilot project to determine if and how electric scooters should be authorized for general use in BC.
This renewal of the pilot project is aimed at providing more data collection and information. The province will be collecting the data from agencies including ICBC and the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit.
Sparrow Scooters, the company piloting the program in the South Okanagan reported there being 2,900 individual rides in Oliver in 2023 with no reported injuries to the emergency department or the hospital.
Council unanimously supported renewing the program.
Randy Houle, director of development services, explained that the town did receive complaints regarding riders on sidewalks and not wearing helmets, but these complaints have subsided since the beginning of 2023.
Councillor Petra Veintimilla suggested that since the new program will be for an additional four years, the town may want to invest in signage to put up where there are ongoing issues.
Oliver’s decision came a few days before Osoyoos made the same decision with hours to spare on April 4 before the end of the program.
