E-scooters not permitted on public property in Wilmot, Wellesley as injury concerns grow
By Galen Simmons
As electric scooters become increasingly common, Waterloo Regional Police are reminding residents that the rules governing where and how they can be used vary by municipality.
In Wilmot and Wellesley townships, e-scooters are currently not permitted on public roads, sidewalks, trails, parks or other municipal property because neither township has opted into Ontario’s provincial e-scooter pilot program.
Ontario’s pilot, which runs until Nov. 27, 2029, allows municipalities to decide whether to permit electric kick-style scooters in public spaces. Where they are allowed, riders must be at least 16 years old, the scooters must meet provincial requirements and cannot exceed 24 km/hr.
Helmets are mandatory for riders under 18, though Waterloo Regional Police Service public information officer Const. Melissa Quarrie said police recommend them for all riders.
“From a safety perspective, e-scooters can present risks to riders, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists when operated improperly,” Quarrie said. “Riders should also be mindful that e-scooters offer limited protection in the event of a collision, increasing the potential for serious injury.”
Those concerns are being echoed by pediatric specialists across Canada.
An Aug. 13 CBC News report cited Canadian pediatricians who say serious e-scooter injuries among children and teens have risen sharply. At SickKids in Toronto, cases increased from 26 in 2023 to 46 in 2024 and 107 in 2025. A Canadian Paediatric Society survey also documented 10 deaths, 12 intensive-care admissions and 26 hospitalizations lasting more than two days over a 12-month period involving powered personal mobility devices, 86 per cent of them e-scooters. Head injuries were reported in about half of the cases.
Wilmot CAO Jeffrey Willmer said council has not yet considered how it wants to regulate e-bikes and e-scooters locally.
“We appreciate that Waterloo Regional Police are taking the lead on public education on this matter,” Willmer said.
For now, he said, e-bikes and e-scooters are not permitted on township roads and sidewalks or in township parks, trails or other municipal property. They are permitted on regional roads in Wilmot, where their use is subject to applicable Highway Traffic Act regulations.
Willmer said the township plans to undertake a policy review, including public engagement, likely in the first or second quarter of 2027.
Quarrie also cautioned that some devices marketed as e-scooters may not meet the province’s legal definition. If they are powerful enough or otherwise fall outside the pilot-program requirements, they may instead be considered motor vehicles, potentially triggering licensing, insurance, registration and licence-plate requirements.
Police are encouraging riders to remain alert, obey applicable rules and wear a helmet regardless of age.
Unsafe or unlawful e-scooter use can be reported to WRPS through its non-emergency line at 519-570-9777. Immediate threats to public safety should be reported to 911.
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