Richmond Hill’s New Micromobility Strategy: What You Should Know

On September 24, 2025, Richmond Hill Council approved its Micromobility Strategy and associated Active Transportation & Micromobility By-law to govern the use of e-bikes, e-scooters and similar devices in the city.

What the Strategy Does

Opens up on-road use of personal e-scooters on municipal roads with posted speed limits of 50 km/h or less, as well as in bicycle lanes, cycle tracks, and multi-use paths adjacent to roads.
Disallows micromobility devices (e-scooters, power-assist e-bikes) on sidewalks (except for youth on traditional bicycles under age 14).
Retains traditional bicycles (and pedal-assist e-bikes) on trails and paths where already permitted; for power-assist e-bikes and scooters, use on park trails remains under review.
Includes measures for education, public outreach, enforcement, and infrastructure maintenance (e.g. snow clearing, repairing bike lanes).
Suggests exploring a shared micromobility pilot (scooter / bike sharing) in future, potentially in cooperation with neighbouring municipalities (Markham, Vaughan) or York Region.

Enforcement & Compliance

Richmond Hill plans a joint enforcement regime involving the City’s by-law officers and the York Regional Police to enforce the new micromobility rules.
Initial phases will emphasize education and awareness, followed by progressive enforcement of violations (e.g., riding on sidewalks, riding in prohibited zones, parking violations).
Complementing City enforcement, York Regional Police already engage in traffic and cycling enforcement (e.g. “One Metre” campaign) in the region and may apply to micromobility offenses in their jurisdiction.

You Should Also Know:

Helmet Rules & Requirements

Under Ontario’s e-scooter pilot regulation, riders under 18 must wear a helmet that meets the standards under the Highway Traffic Act or associated regulation.
For riders 18 or older, a helmet is strongly recommended though not legally mandated under the e-scooter pilot rules.
For e-bikes, Ontario already requires that riders aged 16+ wear an approved bicycle or motorcycle helmet, paralleling the rules for conventional bikes.

Division of Responsibilities: Province vs City

Provincial (Ontario) role: The province lays down the operating framework for e-scooters (via its e-scooter pilot regulation) — for example, specifying minimum age, speed limits, definition of devices, and safety rules. Municipalities must “opt into” the provincial pilot to allow personal e-scooter use.
Municipal (City of Richmond Hill) role: The city sets local rules (via by-law) about where devices may be ridden, how they may be parked, and under what conditions. It also administers day-to-day enforcement (via bylaw officers and coordination with police) and leads education, infrastructure adjustments, and maintenance.