L-R: Susan Lehman with the Downtown Vernon Association; Akbal Mund, acting Vernon mayor; Angela Broadbent from the City of Vernon; and Ankush Karwal of Neuron Mobility at launch of electric scooter rental program. (Vernon Matters photo)

By Pete McIntyre

electric scooters

Go green: new way to get around Vernon

Jul 30, 2021 | 5:00 AM

Vernon’s acting mayor says 99 per cent of the people who rent e-scooters in the city will use them properly, but he admits there will probably be a few issues with the one per cent who don’t.

Akbal Mund said the electric scooters can be tracked by the operator, Neuron Mobility, and the company’s staff will pick up the devices that are left on sidewalks or other areas.

“There is kill switches on them, so they are not readily available for someone to steal them,” Mund stated.

Kelowna has had issues with its program, such as discarded scooters, riders not wearing helmets, and impaired or dangerous operation.

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Mund, who was on hand for Neuron’s launching of the program Wednesday, says the provincial pilot program provides a safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly way to get around the city.

“You can jump on a scooter, go to the mall, go to any restaurant you want, especially being in the downtown core, there’s lots of ways to get around, but instead of your car, jump on your scooter and you can get to the mall in six minutes,” Mund told Vernon Matters.

Mund, a city councillor, and Christy Poirier, city communications manager, pointed out a person could safely ride a scooter from Poson Park all the way north to the Village Green Centre using the multi-use path on the 29th-30th Street connector.

Susan Lehman, executive director of the Downtown Vernon Association, said forms of micro-mobility like this, will help reduce carbon emissions.

“For every small trip you take, micro-mobility wise, that’s one less time that you are starting your car, finding a parking spot and competing with your neighbours for valuable parking spaces.”

Lehman said it should also have an economic impact.

“The more people that use this are more likely to spend. It’s easier for them to spend and it’s also easier for them to get into places where cars can’t,” Lehman said.

Mund says the city was approached by six or seven companies to operate the program and Neuron Mobility was chosen due to their safety features.

That includes helmet-lock technology and a real-time voice guidance system.