Lime e-scooter pilot project to end in Waterloo

Lime Electric Scooter Rentals has decided to not renew its pilot project with the City of Waterloofollowing the end of the second phase on August 12.

In a written statement to CBC Kitchener-Waterloo, Michael Markevich, Lime general manager for Eastern Canada, cited the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's current consultation on electric scooters as the reason for the project's withdrawal. Currently, Ontario legislation prohibits e-scooter use on public streets.

"This is a natural time to wrap up our operations in Waterloo and on campus as the pilots are scheduled to end in the coming days," Markevich said."[We] look forward to partnering again in the future."

Rachel Martin, an economic development co-ordinator for the city, said that while a third phase was "never written in stone," they had expressed interest in continuing the partnership to Lime.

"They have other projects in Canada now in Montreal and in Calgary. And in those provinces the legislative environment is much easier for them to operate," Martin said.

She added that these markets are also larger than Waterloo, and therefore more profitable for the company.

Waterloo wants legislative change

Despite some issues surrounding safety and environmental impact on trails during the early days of the pilot, Martin said the city considers the pilot a success.

"I think that people were looking forward to having the program around a little bit longer, especially with the students, with the start of class coming up in September," she said.

"We look forward to working with the province and hopefully enabling scooters to be back here in Waterloo at some point in the near future."