This is a letter I sent as a letter-to-the-editor at the Edmonton Journal. Sharing here as well.
E-scooters are here and we should rejoice. Options for those who would prefer to try to get around without four wheels, gasoline and more than 150 square-feet of space required wherever they go or park, are only a good thing. There is, however, a bit of an issue. No, it isn’t the scooters, or if they should be allowed on sidewalks (they should) or any of the performative pearl-clutching we’re seeing. What we need to ask is how, after years of advocacy from those asking for (and even trying to build) a bikeshare in Edmonton, our city councilors managed to create a motion to investigate bikeshare, waited a long time, then watched as administration brought in two American scooter companies. No bikeshare. Indeed, no hope for bikeshare, if you ask our councillors. That’s concerning. Also concerning is that we have two American companies operating in our market while, in Kelowna, that city has an Edmonton scooter company, one from Ontario and one from B.C.
So in sum, we didn’t get what we asked for and we didn’t open the door for local or Canadian benefit. Interesting.