Mississauga could implement a bike and e-bike sharing system

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Published October 30, 2019 at 8:42 pm

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Mississauga no longer sees itself as a quaint bedroom community where the car deserves to be king (although it most certainly still is) and is working to urbanize further by studying the possible implementation of a bike, e-bike and e-scooter share system. 

On Oct. 30, members of General Committee supported a recommendation for city staff to study how bikes, e-bikes or e-scooters could be used for travel in Mississauga.

“Bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters offer another way for residents to travel short distances within our City,” said Helen Noehammer, acting commissioner, Transportation and Works. 

“We will look at available options and models including publicly owned and operated, privately owned and operated as well as mixed publicly and privately owned and operated.”

The Cycling Master Plan, which aims to make the city safer for and more appealing to cyclists, called for the creation of bike-share systems and the Transportation Master Plan recommended creating a shared system of bikes, e-bikes or e-scooters. 

In a corporate report, the city says implementing such a system could combat congestion, improving air quality and reduce emissions, provide residents with alternatives to automobile travel, improve community health, provide residents with a variety of affordable and reliable transportation options and increase access to viable transportation options. 

“To determine which system would be a good fit for Mississauga, staff will review bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters that operate within a docked (devices are picked up and dropped off at specific locations) and dockless (users can park the device within certain zones) style. In addition, staff will also review standards and safety of these shared systems,” Noehammer says. 

Currently, the Ontario Highway Traffic Act doesn’t allow e-scooters on roads and sidewalks. The Government of Ontario is in the process of reviewing that Act.

The Cycling Committee and the Road Safety Committee have received presentations on these shared systems.

To learn more about the proposal, click here.

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