E-Scooters are not for kids


The Canadian Paediatric Society received quite a bit of media attention in August 2026,
after releasing research showing the spike in injuries ( and deaths )
related to electric-powered scooters, more aptly called Darwin Scooters.

Imagine. E-Scooters which help children achieve speeds
– for which they are not physically prepared or developed – and cause them to be injured.
The Nanaimo RCMP started flagging that the use of any electric-assisted machines
is restricted for those 16 years of age and older in BC. E-Bikes, e-Scooters, anything.

In rural non-municipal areas of BC ( like Gabriola ),
the use of e-Scooters is prohibited for everyone,
unless there is a side lane available
( like the one going up and down ferry hill ), delineated by a white line.

This means that e-Scooters are prohibited on Gabriola for everyone,
except in a few places where MOTI has put pedestrian/bicycle lanes.

Like speeding, rules are only as good as enforcement,
but there are other unintended consequences to youth riding e-scooters.
Nanaimo RCMP pointed to a recent incident involving an e-scooter and a motor vehicle,
caused by an under-16 year old youth on an e-scooter.
It will be the parents of that youth who will bear the cost of the incident,
as if they had caused the incident with their car.

Children and youth should be challenged.
And we as a society are not prohibiting
mountain biking, skateboarding or other such human-powered sports.

Letting kids do dangerous things is part of letting them grow up.

But since we don’t let kids drive go-karts on the street,
we shouldn’t be handing them e-Scooters or e-Bikes
that are designed to go faster than the human body can make them.

Please, before putting out hard earned cash into something
that is so clearly laid out as prohibited and dangerous for youth and children,
encourage other methods of letting them have fun and get around on Gabriola Island.