Sign of spring: E-scooters back on Vernon streets

Mar 12, 2024 | 4:00 PM

Neuron Mobility’s e-scooters can once again be found around Vernon, the fourth year for the environmental initiative.

The company returned the electric devices to local roads Friday, March 8. The e-bikes will be brought out later in the spring.

In a release to Vernon Matters, Neuron said since the introduction of the e-scooters in Vernon in July of 2021, they have been “very popular with riders who have collectively travelled over 675,000 kilometres.”

Neuron noted 40 per cent of trips replaced a car journey, saving an estimated 43 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

The company also claimed that 70 per cent of trips resulted in a purchase at a local business, which injected an average of $4.5 million annually into Vernon’s local economy.

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“We are excited to have Neuron e-scooters back in downtown Vernon,” Peter Kaz, marketing manager for the Downtown Vernon Association, said in Neuron’s release. “The program brings a great dynamic to our downtown and helps make our streets less congested, shrinking our impact on the environment and making Vernon more vibrant and healthy.”

“As weather has permitted, we’re excited to see Neuron’s scooters launching early for another year,” Dan Proulx, general manager of the Greater Vernon Chamber, added. “It’s fantastic to have this economic and environmentally friendly alternative mode of transportation in our community. They certainly make it easier for people to commute to work and make quick trips to support local businesses,”

This year, Neuron will have additional parking mats in the downtown core to highlight where riders should end their trips.

Riders are reminded that wearing a helmet is mandatory when on an e-scooter, and that only one rider is permitted, which includes no tandem riding with children.

Speaking with Vernon Matters, Vernon’s mayor also welcomed the return of the e-scooters.

“I think there’s a number of people that rely on them, and as soon as the weather changes and the snow goes away, it’s great to have them out there for people to use, because they rely on them. That’s their easiest mode of transport,” Mayor Victor Cumming said.

“So really glad to have them back. We continue to work with the supplier to make their use less impactful on others, and I’m pretty confident we’re going to continue along that track with the provider.”

The city extended the contract with Neuron through to the end of 2024, and then council voted in favour of continuing along with the provincial pilot for the next four years at the Feb. 26 regular meeting.

However, that does not mean Neuron will be guaranteed to be Vernon’s e-scooter provider in the future.

“We’ll go out and see who else would like to be a supplier [for future years],” Cumming told Vernon Matters.

“I’m hoping that Neuron will be one of the ones that puts themselves forward as an option, I think it’s been quite successful for them physically and financially, so I sure hope they are going to be one of the bidders.”

Cumming added work was ongoing between the city and Neuron to make sure the e-scooters do not have negative impacts on other road and sidewalk users.

by Liam Verster

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