Where are the e-scooters? Leduc launches, while Edmonton still sorting out paperwork
Bird e-scooters took flight just south of the capital city Friday morning as Edmonton worked to finalize which fleets will be approved to hit the streets later this month.
Rental scooters in Leduc will be capped at 15 kilometres per hour and must be returned to specific, GPS-designated parking areas. That was decided after clutter complaints, and some injuries, in other cities.
"Hey, the meter ticks until you get your scooter back in an appropriate parking spot," said Leduc City Councillor Glen Finstad.
"We are very excited to join the city, another market in Alberta," said Chadi Abou Hachem with Bird Canada. But when asked about the big city: "Uh…can’t talk much about it."
Bird's rollout in Edmonton is uncertain this season, as the city works through its procurement process with fewer approved vendors and scooters allowed on the streets.
Two companies will be chosen and the number of licences will be capped at 1,500. Last year there were three vendors, Bird, Lime and Spin, with a total of 4,000 scooters initially approved.
"I’m not really sure what problem restricting fleet size is trying to solve," said Coun. Andrew Knack on Friday.
He thinks Edmonton is meddling too much and points to cities like Leduc that are addressing parking and sidewalk-safety issues with existing technology.
"In my ideal world, we’re fixing those two core problems, and then letting the market decide everything else," Knack explained.
If you're looking for a scooter this weekend, local company YEG SCOOT is the only game in town. Their business falls under a different category, because they have to be picked up at, and returned to, one location.
"I mean, obviously, being the only scooter in town right now is great, but our focus is for sure going to be guided tours," explained Hidar Elmais.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.