Road Safety

Are Skates, Skateboards and Scooters Allowed on the Road?

Biking is a popular sport. There are, however, other ways of getting around on wheels! But can this wheel-mounted equipment be used on roads?

This is what the Highway Safety Code has to say on the matter:

• ALLOWED on the roadway: non-motorized scooters.
• PROHIBITED on the roadway: motorized scooters, skates, skis, skateboards and toy motor cars.

Contact your municipality to find out where you can use this equipment safely.

Non-Motorized Scooters
To improve the safety of road users, new rules were introduced in October 2002. Scooters that are sold or rented must be equipped with at least one white reflector or white reflective material at the front and a red reflector or red reflective material at the rear. They must also be equipped with a red reflector or reflective material on each side of the footboard as far to the rear as possible. Scooter sellers who violate this regulation are liable to a $200 to $300 fine*.

Use of reflectors or reflective bands on a scooter is mandatory for use at night on a public roadway. Scooter operators are exempted from this requirement provided they wear reflective clothing or an accessory with reflective material that is visible to road users.

A scooter must be equipped with a rear-wheel braking system. The brakes must be powerful enough to bring the scooter to an immediate stop when a scooter operator is travelling on a dry, paved and level roadway.

List of fines

Offence	Fine*
* Other fees may be added to the fine provided under the Highway Safety Code (contribution to the IVAC crime victims compensation program, registry fees, etc.).
Use of skates, skateboards, skis or toy motor cars on a roadway.	$30 to $60
Use of a scooter not equipped with a rear-wheel brake on a roadway.	$15 to $30
Use of a scooter on a roadway at night without being visible to road users.	$25 to $50
Use of a motorized scooter on a public roadway.	$100 to $200

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