RCMP urge Golden riders to know the rules before using e-bikes and e-scooters.
As electric bikes and scooters become a more familiar sight on B.C. streets, Golden RCMP are reminding residents that not every battery-powered device is treated the same under provincial rules, and that sidewalks are not a place to ride.
Golden-Field RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Mitch Mercier said local police are concerned that some riders may not fully understand the rules around e-bikes and electric kick scooters, particularly the fact that electric kick scooters are not broadly legal for use on public roads across B.C.
“RCMP members will be proactively enforcing the e-Scooter regulations, targeting sidewalk and no helmets, said Sgt. Mercier. “We want to ensure pedestrians and bicyclists get to their destination safely.”
That distinction matters in Golden. The community is not currently listed among the municipalities participating in B.C.’s Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project, a provincial program that allows participating communities to test electric kick scooter use on public roads under specific rules. According to the B.C. government, electric kick scooters can be ridden on public roads only in participating communities, subject to municipal rules. They cannot be used on public roads in municipalities that are not part of the pilot project.
The province’s list of participating communities includes larger centres such as Kelowna, Cranbrook, Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Vancouver, Victoria and others, but Golden is not included on the current list.
There is limited use allowed outside municipal boundaries, but the rules are narrow. In those areas, an electric kick scooter may only be used on certain highways outside municipal boundaries if there is a cycle lane, and the rider must stay in that cycle lane at all times. The province specifically says riders cannot use electric kick scooters on sidewalks or in crosswalks in those areas.
For Golden residents, the practical message is simple: do not assume that because an electric kick scooter can be purchased locally or online, it can legally be ridden anywhere in town.
The province has been testing e-scooter use through a four-year pilot project that began April 5, 2024. The pilot is intended to help determine whether electric kick scooters should be authorized for permanent use in B.C.
In its first-year interim report, the province said 27 municipalities joined the pilot in year one, with 33 participating as of Sept. 15, 2025. Four shared service providers reported 722,000 electric kick scooter trips and more than 1.4 million kilometres travelled in participating communities.
The report also points as to why the province is still studying the issue. Shared service providers reported 53 safety incidents in year one, while hospital data showed concerns around helmet use and underage riding. In Kelowna, for example, 85 per cent of electric kick scooter injury cases reported at Kelowna General Hospital involved no helmet use, and 18 per cent involved underage riding.
Under the pilot project rules, electric kick scooter riders must be at least 16 years old, must wear an approved helmet, must not carry passengers, and must not ride while impaired or distracted. Riders also cannot use sidewalks or crosswalks unless a sign or traffic control device specifically allows it.
That sidewalk rule is one of the biggest concerns for police. Sidewalks are designed for pedestrians, including seniors, children, people using mobility aids and people with accessibility needs. A quiet, fast-moving scooter or e-bike can create a real hazard, especially in busy downtown areas, near schools, parks, crosswalks and storefronts.
E-bikes are a different category from electric kick scooters. In B.C., electric bikes are treated as motor assisted cycles, provided they meet provincial requirements. The province recognizes both standard e-bikes and light e-bikes. A standard e-bike can provide motor assistance up to 32 km/h and may have a maximum continuous power output of 500 watts, while a light e-bike can provide motor assistance up to 25 km/h and has a lower maximum continuous power output of 250 watts. Riders must be at least 16 to operate a standard e-bike and at least 14 to operate a light e-bike.
E-bike riders must wear a bicycle helmet and generally follow the same road rules as cyclists, including obeying signs and traffic lights and yielding to pedestrians. The B.C. government also reminds riders to check local rules, as municipalities may set bylaws governing where bicycles and e-bikes can be used, including on shared-use paths.
The province’s cycling rules state that a person operating a cycle must not ride on a sidewalk unless permitted by municipal bylaw or directed by a sign.
The growing popularity of electric mobility devices has created some confusion because the devices can look similar to casual observers but fall under different rules.
An e-bike with pedals is not the same thing as an electric kick scooter. A mobility scooter is different again and follows pedestrian rules. Other motorized personal transportation devices may not be legal for road use at all.
The province warns that even if a device is available for purchase, the person using it is responsible for knowing whether it is legal to use and what rules apply.
For Golden, the issue is likely to become more visible as summer approaches. Warmer weather brings more people onto local roads, trails and sidewalks, including cyclists, pedestrians, visitors, families and commuters. Electric bikes can be a useful transportation option, especially in a community where people may be travelling between neighbourhoods, downtown, schools, campgrounds, hotels and recreation areas. But the rules still apply.
Police say the priority is safety and awareness, not catching people off guard. Riders should know what type of device they are using, whether it is legal on public roads, where it can be ridden, and what safety equipment is required.
The short version for Golden riders: helmets matter, age limits matter, road rules matter, and sidewalks are for walking.
What riders need to know
• E-scooters: Golden is not currently part of B.C.’s electric kick scooter pilot project, so electric kick scooters are not allowed on public roads within the municipality.
• Sidewalks: Electric kick scooters are not allowed on sidewalks or in crosswalks unless signs or traffic control devices specifically allow it. E-bikes and bicycles are also not generally permitted on sidewalks unless allowed by bylaw or signage.
• Age limits: Electric kick scooter riders in pilot communities must be 16 or older. Standard e-bike riders must be 16 or older, while light e-bike riders must be 14 or older.
• Helmets: Helmets are required for e-bike riders and electric kick scooter riders.
• Passengers: Electric kick scooters are single-rider devices. No passengers.
• Know before you buy: Just because a device is sold in B.C. does not mean it is legal to use on public roads, sidewalks or public spaces.
