60,000+ Toronto residents are already riding electric scooters. Other cities are setting the standard.
Since 2018 when we launched electric scooter sales, we've seen a consistent pattern at Segway of Ontario - customers assume electric scooters are legal in Toronto, often because they see them everywhere on city streets or have family and friends riding around.
With Toronto Police launching enforcement targeting these devices, your constituents now face fines ranging from $150 to $2,500 for using transportation they may not even know is prohibited.
We estimate there are 60,000+ electric scooters operating on Toronto streets, and that number grows every month. Most riders we meet are just trying to get to work affordably and on time - the same reason people choose any transportation option.
Your Constituents Are Already Riding
More than 60,000 electric scooters operate on Toronto streets daily. Most are residents solving transportation problems: commuters bridging gaps between home and transit, students navigating campus connections, delivery workers earning a living, and people reducing car usage.
Half of our customers assume these devices are already legal. The other half don't care about the legal status because they need affordable transportation to get to work. Both groups now face significant penalties under the current enforcement campaign.
Toronto Stands Alone - every other major GTA city joined the provincial pilot program. Major Ontario cities like Ottawa, Hamilton, Mississauga, Brampton, Waterloo Region, Windsor, London, and Ajax all participate, giving their residents clear rules about where to ride, speed limits, helmet requirements. Yet, Toronto residents don't have clear guidelines.
Your constituents regularly ask us: "Why can I ride this legally in Mississauga but not Toronto?" Almost 8 years on, we still don't have a good answer for them.
We support enforcement of dangerous riding. Like you, we don't want these devices being ridden on sidewalks, at excessive speeds, or recklessly. But you can't successfully enforce regulations that residents don't know exist. Education must come before, or at least with, penalties.
So what do we do?
Our team already provides informal safety education & best riding practices with every sale - and have 21 years of experience with micromobility device capabilities and safety protocols. We do this because we like our customers to come back safe and unharmed. Yet the biggest retailers of electric scooters like Amazon and Best Buy sell without accountability.
The majority of e-scooter riders purchase their devices through big-box stores like Best Buy and Amazon - ensuring these retailers are promoting safe riding can also help reduce confusion about where to ride and the rules of the road.
Opting-in to Ontario's micromobility program will help legitimize the city's approach and offer greater education opportunities for riders across the city. Rather than pushing 60,000+ constituents underground with enforcement alone, Toronto could:
- Legalize private ownership under the existing provincial framework
- Partner with established retailers for safety education and device standards
- Create clear rules that residents can actually follow
- Focus enforcement on genuinely dangerous behavior rather than technical violations
Your constituents are already making transportation choices based on daily needs.
The question isn't whether micromobility is coming to Toronto - 60,000+ devices (and growing!) prove it's already here. The question is whether you'll help your constituents use these devices safely and legally, or continue criminalizing them for solving transportation problems the city hasn't addressed.
We're ready to work with you to create a framework that prioritizes safety through education while acknowledging the transportation reality your constituents are already living. I am happy to discuss our experience as one of Canada's longest running micromobility retailers.
Respectfully,
Aaron Binder | Chief Experience Officer
Segway of Ontario
416-677-5088 | aaron@segwayofontario.com
Segway of Ontario has operated in the province for 21 years, providing micromobility devices, rider education, and how-to guides that help micromobility riders + other road users safe and secure.
