New Brunswick·NewA new bylaw in Moncton will set rules and regulations for businesses operating an e-scooter, e-bike or any other micro mobility device rental operation within city limits. Companies will have to meet certain conditions and go through an application process to obtain a licence to operate. Council to vote on new bylaw regulating city’s micromobility device rental businessesRhythm Rathi · CBC News · Posted: Sep 22, 2025 5:50 PM EDT | Last Updated: 41 minutes agoSteven McArthur, owner of Move Scooter Rental, says his company is looking forward to getting licensed by the City of Moncton once the new bylaw passes. A committee approved it Monday, meaning it will now be brought to a full council meeting for first reading. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC )A Moncton committee has unanimously voted in favour of a bylaw to regulate e-scooter operations across the city, sending it forward for a vote by the full council sometime this fall.This new bylaw will set rules and regulations for businesses within city limits that rent out what are considered micromobility devices: personal transportation devices including e-scooters, e-bikes and motorized skateboards, to name a few. To operate legally, companies will have to go through an application process and meet conditions that include: Carrying a certain amount of insurance, and having a signed indemnity in place attesting that the city is not liable for any damages or rider behaviour; Ensuring each device has a unique identification number, and paying a $50 annual fee for each device in the fleet; Providing the city with a list of all their employees and ensuring someone is available to reach at all hours of the day and night; Giving the city access to the company’s real-time device tracking system; and Submitting regular reports about usage and any incidents. The businesses are also responsible for ensuring that helmets are provided for each rental; that no rider is below the age of 16; that speed limit regulators are in place; and that devices are properly parked and maintained. Steven McArthur, owner of Move Scooter Rental, has about 150 scooters placed across Moncton already and he plans to add 100 more in the coming days. Reacting to the proposed bylaw, he said: ‘It will make our company a better company and it will make the city a better city.’ (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)The devices have to be lockable using GPS technology to prevent them from entering certain areas — during festivals and protests, for example — and companies can be fined or have their licence to operate terminated if a user is found to be breaking the rules.If a scooter is impounded because a rider breaks the rules, the bylaw specifies the company will be charged $50 per day. After a week, the device will be disposed of, according to the bylaw.”We are not going to regulate the users. [The businesses] are going to regulate the users of their devices; that’s the idea,” city staff told the council committee. “They have to have their users follow the rules that we put in our bylaw.”Moncton’s fire chief, Conrad Landry, says the bylaw will help better regulate e-scooter rental operations across the city. (Pascal Raiche-Nogue/Radio-Canada)Moncton Fire Chief Conrad Landry said bylaw officers will enforce fines on city-owned land and the bylaw may further be revised when the provincial government includes micromobility devices in its Motor Vehicle Act.”Until we get the provincial legislation, it is hard to do anything with the user … because the Motor Vehicle Act doesn’t have anything specific,” Landry told the council committee.Licences are good for a 12-month period, but businesses will be allowed to operate only between mid-April and mid-NovemberSteven McArthur owns Move Scooter Rental. His company has more than 120 electric kick scooters in the Moncton area, and more than 60 in Saint John.McArthur agrees with the new bylaw’s conditions and is willing to work toward obtaining his licence for the next season, he said.”We can definitely make that happen and we’ll be prepared… and excited to take the opportunity, and provide a means of transportation.” Moncton council will vote on the first reading of the city’s shared micromobility licensing bylaw at an upcoming meeting this fall. (Shane Magee/CBC)He said his company already has GPS technology to regulate device speed limits in zones across the Moncton area. McArthur said his company is also working to provide riders with educational videos, parking stations and helmets. “Our company is prepared to… impose all of the things needed to participate and we think it’s great,” he said. “I think overall it will make our company a better company and it will make the city a better city.”P.J. Singh, the CEO of iRoll Scooter Rental, has about 50 scooters at locations in Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview. It is important for a city to have these systems in place … to help keep the riders and as well as the pedestrians safe.— P.J. Singh, iRoll Scooter RentalHe said the new bylaw might lead to an increase in fees for his users, but he looks forward to obtaining his licence. “It is important for a city to have these systems in place … to help keep the riders and as well as the pedestrians safe,” he said. “It also makes sure that every operator is held to the same standard.”Singh said he did not expect conditions like the high insurance liability costs and 24/7 staff availability, but added: “Overall it’s a good bylaw, so far, from my understanding.”ABOUT THE AUTHORRhythm Rathi is a reporter with CBC New Brunswick in Moncton. He was born and raised in India, and attended journalism school in Ontario. Send your story tips to rhythm.rathi@cbc.ca
Running an e-scooter business may soon require a licence in Moncton
