Why Young Riders in Nova Scotia Will Soon Be Off E-Scooters and E-Bikes

Rising Hospitalizations Prompt New Age Restrictions

Hospitalizations linked to e-scooters reached 498 across Canada during the 2023-2024 period, marking a 32 percent increase from the prior year according to data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. In response to evolving road safety challenges, Nova Scotia plans to introduce a ban preventing children under 14 years old from operating e-bikes and e-scooters starting this fall.

Traffic Safety Act Amendments

The upcoming age limitation will be introduced through amendments to the province’s Traffic Safety Act. Public Works Minister Fred Tilley explained that the updates aim to safeguard vulnerable road users as personal transit technology rapidly advances.

“The technology on bicycles and cars is changing on the daily, which allows these conveyances to move faster,” Minister Tilley stated, noting that “You start to get into a different level of conveyance than a traditional bicycle or cycle.”

Cross-Country Regulatory Context

As provinces across Canada address electric micro-mobility, British Columbia currently manages electric kick scooters under an Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project running through April 5, 2028. Under British Columbia’s rules, riders must be at least 16 years old, wear a helmet, and adhere to a motor speed cap of 25 km/h, with illegal operation carrying fines up to $598. Details regarding B.C.’s regulations are available via the B.C. government guidelines. Nova Scotia’s new rules will establish its own clear boundary for young operators when they take effect this autumn.