Spruce Grove is asking other Alberta municipalities to back a push for clear, province-wide rules on e-scooters and e-bikes. The city is sponsoring a resolution to be voted on at the Alberta Municipalities convention in Edmonton from September 23 to 25, 2026.
Mayor Jeff Acker says the goal is to get the province to give local governments the tools they need to enforce safety rules. Resident complaints have focused on speed, helmet use, age limits, and where these devices are parked, but current laws make enforcement difficult.
Under Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act, privately owned e-scooters are not allowed on public roads, trails, sidewalks, or pathways. They can only be used on private property. At the same time, Spruce Grove operates a shared e-scooter program with Bird Canada under a provincial exemption, creating confusion about what is legal.
“We have heard concerns from many in our community related to public safety, and the need for fair and consistent rules and regulations to support proactive enforcement,” Acker said in a statement on the city website.
Red Deer Mayor Cindy Jefferies is also bringing a motion for province-wide e-scooter rules to the same convention. She described the current situation as “a bit of a dog’s breakfast” when it comes to who enforces what. If rules are consistent across the province, she said, everyone understands what is allowed.
The Alberta government has said it is considering amendments to the Traffic Safety Act that would create a provincial framework for personal micromobility devices. In that scenario, municipalities could choose to allow the devices and enforce their own rules. The Rural Municipalities of Alberta notes the province has not yet released findings from an earlier e-scooter pilot review.
