Moncton city council has passed a bylaw to regulate the rental of e-scooters, with a city councillor urging the provincial government to update legislation to establish road regulations for users. The bylaw, which had its first reading last month, was unanimously approved during its second and third readings without discussion on Monday evening.
Under the proposed bylaw, companies offering e-scooter, bike, or other “micromobility” device rentals must obtain an annual license and adhere to specific regulations, or face penalties or potential license revocation. These regulations include utilizing GPS data to prevent scooters from being used or left on sidewalks, setting a minimum user age of 16, and restricting where the devices can be parked within the downtown area.
According to Charles LeBlanc, Moncton’s director of bylaw enforcement and community safety, two companies currently operate approximately 800 e-scooters for rent in the Moncton region. The approved bylaw grants these companies a 30-day grace period to comply with the new rules.
Notably, the bylaw does not govern privately owned devices or user conduct, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial government to amend the Motor Vehicle Act, which presently lacks provisions for e-scooters. In a letter dated July 2025, former acting mayor Paulette Thériault urged Justice Minister Rob McKee to revise the law to enable municipalities to implement safety policies for pedestrians, riders, and other road users.
Thériault’s letter advocated for aligning New Brunswick’s regulations with those of Nova Scotia, which updated its legislation in 2022 to address e-scooters. Although McKee did not provide a formal response, Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin acknowledged the city’s request and promised a review.
Coun. Bryan Butler reiterated the call for provincial action, highlighting the need to define and regulate electric scooters under the Motor Vehicle Act. Butler emphasized the importance of empowering municipalities to establish their own rules in response to the evolving urban landscape, stressing the economic significance of Moncton and the necessity for local governance in shaping regulations.
