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Vancouver police issued more than 1,200 tickets and warnings to e-scooter riders in September, with the majority of violations involving riders who refused to wear helmets. The enforcement blitz began on September 4 and targeted some of the most commonly broken e-scooter rules across the city.
Helmet Violations Lead the Numbers
Inspector Stephanie Willoughby of the Vancouver Police Department said officers stopped 920 riders who were not wearing helmets. Of those, 167 received tickets and 753 received warnings. In total, police handed out 1,226 tickets and warnings to e-scooter riders during the campaign.
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Willoughby expressed hope that the enforcement effort would change behaviour over time. “We’re assuming that they’re going to tell somebody about their interaction and it’s hopefully going to have a positive impact on people wearing helmets in the future,” she said.
Beyond helmet violations, officers also cited riders for other offences. Riding on the sidewalk resulted in 22 tickets and 159 warnings. Carrying a passenger or riding double led to two tickets and 82 warnings.
Key Rules That Riders Are Missing
Vancouver’s e-scooter regulations cover several areas that riders frequently overlook. Helmets are mandatory, and riders must walk their scooters on sidewalks and through crosswalks rather than riding them. Doubling, meaning carrying a passenger, is not permitted.
Riders must also be at least 16 years old. Between sunset and sunrise, both front and rear lights must be switched on. E-scooters should travel in cycle lanes or along the far right of roads, and they cannot operate on roads with speed limits above 50 km/h. The maximum permitted speed for e-scooters is 25 km/h.
A Fatal Crash Adds Urgency to the Campaign
The enforcement effort follows a tragic incident in July that highlighted the dangers of riding without a helmet. Shyan Lolly, 30, was riding a scooter near Venables Street and Commercial Drive at around 10 a.m. when she collided with the side of a vehicle. She was not wearing a helmet and struck her head on the ground. Although she was conscious when transported to hospital, she died from her injuries on July 11.
After her death, Lolly’s family made a public appeal urging all e-scooter riders to wear helmets. Her case has since added weight to calls for stricter compliance with safety rules across the city.
Meanwhile, Vancouver police confirmed that the e-scooter safety blitz would continue through the weekend. Authorities are encouraging riders to follow all regulations and treat helmet use as non-negotiable, particularly in light of recent fatalities linked to e-scooter riding without protective gear.
