Regional councillors to consider extending contract for Neuron Mobility scooters

E-bike and e-scooters had a very successful second year according to a new report coming to regional councillors.

In 2024, e-bikes and scooters owned by Neuron Mobility were travelled a total of over 288,000km across 173,000 rides between Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo. One driver also drove 43km using scooters.

Councillors will decide if they are to renew the program annually until November 2029. The decision would extend the term for the time period of
April 1 to October 31 for 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.

The e-scooter program first launched in the spring of 2023 and was seen as a success in the first year. The number of rides did drop slightly from the year before by 8.6 per cent as the novelty of the program fell, but the number of regular users and pass owners did increase.

Isaac Random, the Head of Corporate Affairs at Neuron Mobility Canada, said the second year of the program in the region was a success not only because of the number of users but the economic impact as well.

“We saw that the local impact in 2023 was $8.2 million in the Region of Waterloo, which saw approximately a $46 spend at a business per trip,” said Random. He adds he expects that to continue in the 2024 numbers.

A new fleet of accessible scooters are also set to be tested in the region this year. One design includes a tricycle with a folding rear basket and another upright three-wheeled scooter. Random said they are for other drivers who can’t use a standard e-bike or scooter.

“We want to try and expand the Micro-accessibility Fleet to be more inclusive for drivers,” said Random.

The report will be presented to councillors on the Sustainability, Infrastructure, And Development Committee on Tuesday.