E-scooters allowed in Kamloops, but don’t expect rentals just yet

Electric scooters are finally allowed in Kamloops, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be taking the streets by storm this spring.

Despite giving the OK on city streets, it will be several months before a rental fleet will appear in Kamloops.

“It’s going to take quite a few months, so we are thinking it might be either late summer or early fall,” city traffic engineer Nii Noi Akuetteh said.

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They’ll be rolled out under a city contract and, once arranged, they’ll have designated parking spots for riders to grab their e-scooter or park when they’re done.

Kamloops is among two dozen BC cities now part of a provincial pilot project, a program that saw cities like Kelowna, Vernon and Vancouver introduce fleets for short-term rides.

Once in the Tournament Capital, riders will pay by the minute through an app and they’ll likely be restricted to core areas like downtown and the North Shore.

Akuetteh said staff will soon be looking for a contractor. City council heard in December rentals could be introduced as early as May, Akuetteh said it will more likely be late summer or early fall.

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“That is a little late, but at least we can get some riding season in before the year ends,” he said.

They’ve become more popular in recent years and riders could frequently be found in Kamloops last year, but as of April 5, city bylaws finally allow them, with some conditions.

When introduced in Kelowna four years ago, e-scooters quickly exploded in popularity with 225,000 total rides and an average 1,500 per day in the first season. That year, it was estimated up to a third of Kelowna residents older than 16 had tried a rented e-scooter at least once.