Since Gabriel Kwok started riding an electric unicycle on Vancouver’s streets nine months ago, he estimates he’s logged about 2,000 kilometres on the briefcase-sized vehicle.
His experience speaks to ambiguity about the rules governing electric micro mobility vehicles including unicycles, scooters and bikes, as policymakers try to reconcile encouragement of their use, with police enforcement and disputes with other road users. In an email, Sgt. Steve Addison with the Vancouver Police Department said the force prefers educating people about traffic laws before issuing tickets.
But one officer did warn him that reckless riding could net a violation ticket, and now that warning has turned into a reality for several riders, Spence said. Noonan said tightening the rules, coupled with education and enforcement, saw complaints about electric scooters drop 90 per cent in 2022.“Providing the infrastructure for these new types of vehicles to be ridden safely away from people walking and away from traffic is the ultimate solution that we’re working towards,” Noonan said.
For Travers, the electric unicycle has been transformative, replacing 80 per cent of car trips and improving their mental and physical health since a nagging knee injury that keeps them off conventional or even electric-assisted bicycles.