Micromobility is an umbrella term for various low-speed, lightweight, wheeled personal mobility devices, most often electrified. The most common micromobility devices in Ontario are e-bikes and e-scooters.

Micromobility benefits include:

• Managing congestion
• Enhancing mobility choice and accessibility
• Improving first/last-mile transit connectivity
• Supporting climate change goals
• Unlocking shared mobility

With opportunity, there are also challenges that must be faced:

• Safety
• Accessibility (e.g., devices parked on sidewalks)
• Conflicts in shared spaces (e.g., off-road multi-use trails, in-boulevard multi-use paths)
• Year-round road maintenance
• Insurance and liability

In Richmond Hill, mobility device users such as wheelchairs and mobility scooters are considered as pedestrians.

The table below outlines major vehicle types, highlights key regulatory requirements, and clarifies what vehicles are permitted within the public transportation network in Richmond Hill. Operator and vehicle requirements for each vehicle type are determined by the Province of Ontario; basic requirements are outlined below, but please refer to the appropriate provincial resource for full requirements.

Please also note that assistive mobility devices (wheelchairs, mobility scooters, etc.) are considered separately from micromobility, and do not appear in the table. 

Where Can I Ride My Device

Where Can I Ride My Device

Device	On Road	On-Road Cycling Facilities	In-Boulevard Cycling Facilities	Off-Road Paved Trails	Sidewalks
E-scooter	*
Traditional Bicycle					~
Pedal Assist Bicycle
Power Assist Bicycle
Motor Assist Bicycle
Other (segway, cargo e-bike, e-hoverboard, etc.)

*: Per Ontario E-scooter Pilot Program, only on roads with a maximum posted speed of 50km/h or less.

~: Permit only those 14 years of age and under to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk

For the safety and accessibility of all road users:

• Follow rules of the road.
• Park e-scooters and bicycles in designated parking spaces.
• Keep a safe distance from pedestrians and other micromobility users in shared spaces.
• Yield to pedestrians and other micromobility users at crossings.
• Reduce speed when near pedestrians.
• Maintain micromobility devices in good working order.
• Stop when approaching a boarding and alighting transit vehicle.

For the complete set of Richmond Hill’s micromobility regulations, please refer to the Active Transportation and Micromobility By-law. 

For further information on the Provincial requirements, please refer to the Ontario e-scooter and e-bike webpages.

Shared Micromobility

Shared micromobility are services that provide shared public access to micromobility devices, such as bikeshare and scootershare. The Micromobility Strategy recommends the City consider shared micromobility services in the future.

Trails and Parks

The City will be investigating the possibility of permitting e-scooters and power-assisted bicycles on paved off-road multi-use trails (including park pathways). Traditional bicycles and pedal-assisted bicycles are already permitted as per the Parks Use By-law 19-22.

Other Micromobility Devices

City staff will continue to monitor the status of all Provincial micromobility pilot programs and consider permitting additional devices as transportation technologies and trends evolve.