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Richmond
2025-04-17 07:42 PDT
Richmond RCMP is reminding the public that e-scooters and bicycles are not permitted to operate on sidewalks. This reminder follows ongoing concerns from residents, particularly in high-pedestrian areas such as City Centre and Steveston, where foot traffic and micromobility use are increasing.
Richmond has an extensive and growing network of cycling infrastructure. Riders are encouraged to use designated lanes and they are expected to follow all traffic regulations.
Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Riding e-scooters and bikes on sidewalks is illegal and puts vulnerable members of our community, including children and seniors, at risk of serious injury. said Cst. Tarape, Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit. Our goal is for everyone to feel safe in public spaces in Richmond. We are asking riders to do their part by using dedicated bike lanes and cycling routes where available, and for both drivers and riders to exercise due caution on shared roadways.
Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Riding e-scooters and bikes on sidewalks is illegal and puts vulnerable members of our community, including children and seniors, at risk of serious injury.
Our goal is for everyone to feel safe in public spaces in Richmond. We are asking riders to do their part by using dedicated bike lanes and cycling routes where available, and for both drivers and riders to exercise due caution on shared roadways.
Operation of a bicycle or an e-scooter on a sidewalk is an offence that carries a fine of $109.00.
On April 12th and 13th, Richmond Road Safety Unit (RSU) officers stopped 27 riders who were riding an E-scooter or bicycle on the sidewalk. Over the course of the two-day blitz, written warnings were issued for 13 offences, and 17 charges were laid for riding on the sidewalk, and 5 for failing to wear a helmet. One minor rider rode up to the police checkpoint doing a wheelie near pedestrians, and was issued a written warning for Careless Cycling and Ride Cycle on Sidewalk.
wheelie
As the operation took place beside the roadway, RSU officers laid a further 7 charges for Motor Vehicle Act offences for drivers including using an electronic device while driving, failing to wear a seatbelt, and having two unrestrained children.
When the operation wrapped up, officers spotted a known prohibited driver. The driver was arrested without incident and faces charges for Driving While Prohibited, Fail to Comply with a Recognizance, and Obstruct a Peace Officer.
This spring, Richmond RCMP is increasing education and targeted enforcement efforts in high-risk areas, particularly during peak commuting hours. Riders are reminded to always wear a helmet when riding a e-scooter or bike of any kind.
In 2023, Richmond RCMP issued a safety video to promote e-scooter safety education. Riders are encouraged to familiarize themselves with all safety guidelines and regulations prior to riding.
In this video Richmond RCMP review the rules and regulations to ensure safe e-scooter operation in the City of Richmond, for all users of the road and shared paved pathways.
Time denoted 00:00:00,000 = hr:min:sec,millisecondsDV: = Described VideoA: = Sounds and musicV: = VoiceT: = Text
00:00:00,000 to 00:00:11,000DV: A shared pathway sign is displayed as the screen pans to a Richmond RMCP police officer wearing a helmet riding an e-scooter along the boardwalk and then stops to talk.A: Bouncy music introduction and the sound of a bell, with the music fading and playing softly in the background.V: The officer says, Electric scooters are an exciting new mode of transportation. But do you know the rules and regulations?
Electric scooters are an exciting new mode of transportation. But do you know the rules and regulations?
00:00:11,000 to 00:00:12,240DV: Scene changes to a close up of the officer continuing to speak into the camera, while standing on an e-scooter on the boardwalk.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The officer says, When riding electric scooters…
When riding electric scooters…
00:00:12,250 to 00:00:15,030DV: An image of a dedicated cycling lane appears in a split frame, on the left of the screen.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The officer continues to speak saying, make sure to use dedicated cycling lanes,
make sure to use dedicated cycling lanes,
00:00:15,040 to 00:00:17,010DV: An image of a paved shared pathway appears in a split frame, on the right of the screen.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The officer continues to speak saying, paved shared pathways,
paved shared pathways,
00:00:17,020 to 00:00:19,100DV: An image of the shoulder of a road appears in a split frame, in the middle of the screen.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The officer continues to speak saying, or the shoulder, when applicable,
or the shoulder, when applicable,
00:00:19,110 to 00:00:20,110DV: Scene changes to the officer continuing to speak into the camera, while standing on an e-scooter on the boardwalk.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The officer continues to speak saying, and never,
and never,
00:00:20,120 to 00:00:22,020DV: An image of a sidewalk appears in a split frame, on the left of the screen.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The officer continues to speak saying, ride on the sidewalks
ride on the sidewalks
00:00:22,030 to 00:00:24,280DV: An image of an unpaved trail appears in a split frame, to the right of the screen.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The officer continues to speak saying, or on unpaved trails.
or on unpaved trails.
00:00:24,290 to 00:00:27,260DV: Scene changes to the officer continuing to speak into the camera, while standing on an e-scooter on the boardwalk without a helmet, he points to his head and a helmet appears on it.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background, and a twinkle sounds plays when the helmet appears.V: The officer says, Always wear a helmet.
Always wear a helmet.
00:00:27,270 to 00:00:30,150DV: Scene dissolves to the officer continuing to speak into the camera, while standing on an e-scooter on the boardwalk.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The officer says, When riding, the maximum speed is
When riding, the maximum speed is
00:00:30,160 to 00:00:34,060DV: An image of a dedicated cycling lane appears in a split frame, on the left of the screen, and a maximum 20 km/hr speed limit sign appears in the top left corner of the frame.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background. A bubble sound plays when the speed limit sign appears.V: The officer continues to speak saying, 20 kilometres per hour on roadways and dedicated cycling lanes,
20 kilometres per hour on roadways and dedicated cycling lanes,
00:00:34,070 to 00:00:38,040DV: An image of a shared pathway appears in a split frame, on the right of the screen, and a maximum 15 km/hr speed limit sign appears in the top left corner of the frame.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background. A bubble sound plays when the speed limit sign appears.V: The officer continues to speak saying, and only 15 kilometres per hour on paved shared pathways.
and only 15 kilometres per hour on paved shared pathways.
00:00:38,050 to 00:00:40,015DV: The officer on an e-scooter waits at an intersection on the left side of the screen as two pedestrians, a man and a woman, walk across the intersection from the right of the screen. The man raises his right hand in a gesture as they get closer to the officer.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.
00:00:40,160 to 00:00:41,260DV: The screen angle changes to a close up behind the officer’s shoulder as the two pedestrians pass by and both gesture with their right hand.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.
00:00:41,270 to 00:00:44,040DV: Scene changes to the officer continuing to speak into the camera, while standing on an e-scooter in the intersection.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The officer says, And yield to pedestrians.
And yield to pedestrians.
00:00:44,050 to 00:00:46,110DV: Scene dissolves to a male teenager on the side of the road waiving to the officer.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The teenager shouts, Hey! Can I ride on the back?
Hey! Can I ride on the back?
00:00:46,120 to 00:00:49,070DV: The scene changes to the right side of the teenager, looking at the officer standing on the e-scooter in the intersection.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The officer responds, Sorry. Only one person is allowed at a time.
Sorry. Only one person is allowed at a time.
00:00:49,080 to 00:00:50,020DV: The scene changes to the teenager at the side of the road, with the officer’s head and helmet to the right.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The officer continues to speak, saying, No passengers.
No passengers.
00:00:50,030 to 00:00:51,080DV: The scene changes to the right side of the teenager, and we see the officer standing on an e-scooter in the intersection as he rides away.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.
00:00:51,090 to 00:00:58,050DV: We see the officer with his helmet riding the e-scooter down the right side of the road and then stopping in front of the camera to speak, before riding away.A: Music continues playing faintly in the background.V: The officer speaks, saying, And you must be at least 16 years old to operate an e-scooter.
And you must be at least 16 years old to operate an e-scooter.
00:00:58,060 to 00:01:06,120DV: We see the officer in a helmet riding in on the e-scooter from the right of the screen, in front of Richmond RCMP Detachment, with the words Richmond RCMP/GRC and the RCMP crest on the building in the background.A: Music fades to silence.V: The officer speaks, saying, Richmond RCMP will continue to be out there doing education and enforcement to help keep the public safe.
Richmond RCMP will continue to be out there doing education and enforcement to help keep the public safe.
00:01:06,130 to 00:01:10,030DV: The scene changes to a closer perspective of the officer on the e-scooter in front of Richmond RCMP Detachment.V: The officer speaks, saying, Have fun on your e-scooter, please ride safe, and responsibly.
Have fun on your e-scooter, please ride safe, and responsibly.
00:01:10,040 to 00:01:14,180DV: Video of the officer in front of the Richmond RCMP Detachment freezes with text and the City of Richmond Heron logo appearing on the screen.A: Sound of a bike bell plays.T: For more information visit richmond.ca/escooter
For more information visit richmond.ca/escooter
00:01:14,190 to 00:01:16,070DV: Screen dissolves to a black screen with text and RCMP crest.T: Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Gendarmerie royale du Canada, Copyright His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 2022.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Gendarmerie royale du Canada, Copyright His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 2022.
00:01:16,080 to 00:01:18,250DV: Government of Canada logo appears, with the Canadian flag waving in the upper right hand corner of the logo.T: Canada
Canada
00:01:18,250End.
Provincial rules governing e-scooter operation include:
Failing to follow the rules can result in penalties and fines up to $2,000.00. To learn more about e-scooter regulations visit the BC Government website.
In the City of Richmond, e-scooters are permitted to operate as follows:
Fines for bylaw infractions range from $95.00 to $175.00. To learn more, visit the City of Richmond website.
Municipal bylaws for e-scooters may vary between jurisdictions. It is important to familiarize yourself with the bylaws of the community in which you are riding.
To further our safety and outreach efforts, Richmond RCMP will be partnering with the City of Richmond and ICBC for an upcoming Skills and Safety Clinic on June 14th at the Lansdowne Centre northwest parking lot from 10 am – 2 pm. The clinic is designed to offer hands-on learning experiences for e-scooter enthusiasts and newcomers alike, focusing on skill development, safe riding practices, and legal requirements.
For more details about upcoming community safety events in Richmond, please download the City of Richmond’s Community Safety App.
To report unsafe riding behaviour, call the Richmond RCMP non-emergency telephone number at 604-278-1212, or via online crime reporting.
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Email: richmond_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca Website: richmond.rcmp.ca
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