Moncton council has approved a new bylaw regulating e-scooter rental operations in the city, a move intended to manage where devices are used and left downtown while officials press the provincial government to create road rules for both rental and privately owned micromobility devices.
Unanimous approval, quick compliance timeline
The bylaw, which passed second and third readings without debate Monday evening, gives rental companies 30 days to comply with the new requirements. City staff told council in July that two companies together operate about 800 rentable e-scooters in the Moncton area.
Under the new municipal rules, operators of e-scooters, bikes and other "micromobility" rentals must hold an annual licence and follow several operational conditions or face fines or licence revocation. The bylaw does not extend to privately owned devices or directly regulate rider behaviour on streets and sidewalks; those issues remain under provincial jurisdiction.
What the bylaw requires
- Operators must be licensed annually by the city.
- Companies are required to use GPS data to prevent scooters from being used or left on sidewalks.
- Users must be at least 16 years old to rent a device.
- There are restrictions on where scooters can be left within the downtown core.
The bylaw’s provisions are aimed at reducing hazards for pedestrians, protecting shared public spaces and improving how vendors manage their fleets in busy areas.
Province urged to change Motor Vehicle Act
Municipal staff and councillors noted a limitation: the bylaw cannot set rules for privately owned e-scooters or define riding behaviour because the New Brunswick Motor Vehicle Act currently contains no provisions for e-scooters. City officials say the province must amend the act to establish consistent road rules.
“The absence of a provincial standard leaves cities and towns unable to implement policies that protect pedestrians, riders, and other road users alike,”
The sentence appears in a July 2025 letter from then‑acting mayor Paulette Thériault to Justice Minister Rob McKee that the city provided to media. The city is using the bylaw to regulate operators while continuing to press for provincial legislative change.
Local context and next steps
Two companies have been operating rentable e-scooter fleets in Moncton for about two years, according to Charles LeBlanc, the city’s director of bylaw enforcement and community safety. The municipal requirement for GPS controls is intended to reduce sidewalk clutter and unsafe parking, issues that have prompted complaints in many communities where micromobility devices have proliferated.
With the bylaw now in force and a short window for compliance, operators will need to adapt systems and practices quickly to meet the city’s conditions. If the provincial government amends the Motor Vehicle Act to include e-scooters, that would allow municipalities to pursue broader rules on rider conduct and privately owned devices — harmonizing expectations across New Brunswick.
For now, the city's approach is focused on licensing and operational controls for rental companies as a way to manage downtown circulation and safety while continuing to encourage a province-wide regulatory solution.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of operators | 2 companies (approximately 800 scooters) |
| Minimum user age | 16 years |
| Compliance period | 30 days |
The decision reflects a common municipal response across Canada as cities seek to balance new transportation options with pedestrian safety and orderly use of public space. Moncton officials say a provincial update to the Motor Vehicle Act remains essential to comprehensively regulate micromobility and ensure consistent rules for all users.
