“Just Asking” About E-Bikes & E-Scooters on CBC

Last weekend, people across Canada had the chance to ask their e-bike and e-scooter questions on CBC’s call-in radio show “Just Asking”. And one of the people answering those questions was me!

For an hour, I joined host Saroja Coelho, co-panelist Jeff Casello (Professor of Transportation Planning and Engineering, University of Waterloo) and guest Dr. Laurie Plotnick (Head of Trauma and the Montreal Children’s Hospital) to chat all things e-micromobility.

We received interesting questions from both Saroja and people calling in and we touched on many topics, including:

• How e-scooters and e-bikes are defined.

• Why people are using e-bikes and e-scooters to enhance their mobility.

• Device safety and the results of new collision and injury reports.

• Strategies for encouraging safer riding.

• Where e-bikes and e-scooters are permitted to ride.

• The case for more cycling and micromobility infrastructure.

• How these devices are being marketed and sold to underage riders.

I am always curious to hear from people about e-bikes and e-scooters, and I was grateful for the opportunity to participate in this show as a guest expert. While I had prepared for a lot of negativity and calls to ban them, callers were genuinely looking for ways to increase both safety and accessibility for everyone.

Take a listen, and feel free to send me your e-bike and e-scooter questions!