E-scooter and e-bike service to be expanded as Waterloo region renews partnership with Neuron Mobility

Rental e-scooters and bikes will be back on the streets in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo this spring as the Region of Waterloo has renewed its partnership with provider Neuron Mobility.

The renewal agreement will see the region work with Neuron Mobility to expand the service area and number of rental stations, while also focusing on parking facilities, riding rules, and education around rider etiquette.

The e-scooters and e-bikes are expected to be available for rent in the region starting in April.

During a presentation to regional councillors on Tuesday, Neuron Mobility head of corporate affairs Issac Ransom, said more than 71,000 people signed up for the service since it launched in the spring of 2023. More than 190,000 trips were taken, the average of which was 2.12 kilometres and lasted 14 minutes.

Coun. Colleen Jones called it "very much a good news story."

"I remember when we were launching the pilot and there was hesitation," she said. "I think it's excellent, and I think it's an option that adds to our residents for how they get around."

Ransom answered several questions from councillors following his presentation, including how Neuron handles customers who may be drunk or high.

"There is a lot of education in the app and there's warnings in the scooters, of course, around that," he said. "Later in the evening, we do have a reaction game that goes on that does force riders to test their ability to respond."

The app will direct the rider to call a taxi if necessary, Ransom said.

He said the company is also working with law enforcement, local businesses and other partners to better understand how to manage the issue of potentially inebriated riders.

"But I think some of it, too, is a learning curve for riders," Ransom said. "They don't necessarily assess an e-scooter to be the same as a motor vehicle, but it is classified as a vehicle."

He added people can be charged with impaired driving if they operate an e-scooter or e-bike while drunk or high.

"If they are participating that kind of behaviour, obviously there's implications for that if they do become involved in an incident," he said.

"Those are things we are working on, and it's not just a challenge here. It's a challenge in markets for all operators."

In a media release, the Region of Waterloo said people renting Neuron scooters and bikes "prevented over 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions" and brought more than $8 million into the local economy.

Waterloo region initially announced its partnership with Neuron Mobility in April 2023. The program launched with 500 electric bikes and scooters available to rent through the Neuron app.