Manitoba to introduce new e-scooter regulations next year
Posted October 13, 2026 8:27 pm.
Manitoba is bringing in new rules for e-scooters and other personal electronic vehicles starting next year. The changes are intended to make these vehicles safer for riders and the people around them. E-scooter safety advocates say it’s a step in the right direction, even if it misses the mark in some areas.
Steven Stairs, who has been advocating for safer regulations for e-scooters and other electric vehicles for years, says he believes the changes will help save lives.
“I think it’s intended to be what it’s meant to do and that is to save peoples lives,” said Stairs. “I think it will do that.”
Stairs says one area the province got right is introducing safety requirements for younger riders.
“All we need is for kids to ride helmets and we’ll save lives,” said Stairs.
The new regulations include a minimum age of 16 to ride an e-scooter, and all riders and passengers must wear a properly fitted helmet.
E-scooters will also be restricted to roads with a maximum speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour, and they will not be allowed to travel faster than 25 kilometres per hour. Riding on sidewalks will also be prohibited.
In a statement, Manitoba’s Minister of Transportation said the changes are intended to address concerns about injuries among young riders.
“We’re especially concerned about the number of young people being injured, which is why we’re bringing in clearer rules to help protect kids and everyone sharing our roads..”
While Stairs welcomes the province’s move to introduce new regulations, he has concerns about the 25-kilometre-per-hour speed limit and how it could affect traffic on the road.
“Unwittingly it creates an electric vehicle traffic jam on the side of the road, we’re only given a meter wide distance and now you want people passing in that small area?”
