New forms of mobility present new challenges for policymakers and planners. Mobycon’s experts were eager to share their expertise with Canada’s transportation agency to help them move forward.
How can we allow access to the benefits of micromobility without sacrificing the safety of other street users?
Mobycon researched micromobility regulations to help Transport Canada investigate methods to improve safety related to micromobility devices, which are not regulated nationally. The absence of federal regulations has created considerable inconsistency between jurisdictions, making it more challenging to safely integrate these vehicles into the Canadian transport systems. This research reviewed the current state of micromobility regulations and devices in Canada.
The project team also conducted a review of incidents involving micromobility devices, as well as general research on the safety of these devices. Regulations for micromobility modes were examined in other comparable countries to identify regulatory practices that could be useful in Canada. This research advises Transport Canada and other government agencies on future studies needed to assess the risks associated with the safety of micromobility devices, particularly concerning their design and use on public roads or paths.
Our Approach
- Reviewed the state of micromobility in Canada to understand the current landscape and the impact of these vehicles on road safety, including the devices available for sale and the micromobility and motor vehicle safety regulations at the federal, provincial, and territorial levels.
- Conducted an international comparison of micromobility regulations and best practices in five comparable countries (the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, and Australia) and global organizations.
- Identified safety considerations for micromobility devices related to their design and the environments in which they are used by analyzing trends in collisions involving micromobility and discussing the implications for using these devices.
Micromobility offers promising new ways to get around, but it also presents a regulatory challenge to policymakers. Reach out to Narayan Donaldson to hear more about this project, read more about our transport planning services here, or contact us to discuss a micromobility plan for your city!