Langley City is a member of the Lower Mainland Local Government Association, which is the voice of local government in the Squamish-Lillooet, Metro Vancouver, and the Fraser Valley Regional Districts. Member local governments represent about 60% of BC's population.
Langley City Councillor Paul Albrecht is the President of the Lower Mainland Local Government Association, and I’m the Metro Vancouver Regional District representative on its board.
Every year, the Lower Mainland Local Government Association holds a conference and annual general meeting in the spring. One key part of that conference is for conference attendees to debate motions submitted by member local governments, which generally call on the provincial government to take some action. Motions that the majority of the attendees agree with help inform the Lower Mainland Local Government Association's advocacy efforts and are also submitted for inclusion for debate at the annual Union of BC Municipalities conference later in the year.
Langley City Council approved sending the following motion for inclusion at the Local Government Association Conference.
WHEREAS the Motor Vehicle Act in British Columbia and associated regulations presently inhibit seniors and people with disabilities the ability to be active, independent, and engaged by prohibiting the use of electric wheelchairs and three or four wheeled personal mobility scooters on municipal bike and roll lanes and routes resulting in increased conflicts between these devices and pedestrians on sidewalks, multi-use pathways, and trails as well as motor vehicles.
AND WHEREAS the rapid growth of micro-mobility devices such as electric kick scooters and electric bikes dictates that the Province needs to regulate the use of such devices in the Motor Vehicle Act.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that LMLGA and UBCM advocate to the Province of British Columbia to amend the legislation and regulations within the Motor Vehicle Act to permanently enshrine a new class of Personal Mobility Devices and Micro-Mobility Devices and establish consistent, province-wide standards and regulations for the use of these devices on traffic-calmed public roads and cycling infrastructure across BC.
Micro E-mobility is the future, especially in an urban centre like Langley City. It is important that the provincial government have clear and consistent regulations. The current system is a patchwork and doesn’t include all the different types of micro e-mobility devices on the market today. This makes it next to impossible for police to enforce standards and for local government to provide infrastructure to accommodate these devices, ensuring that everyone remains safe.
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