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CBC
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- CBC
Halifax's shared e-bike, scooter pilot causing some accessibility issues, say advocates
In the last week, Tara Niekamp has come across electric scooters from Halifax's new micromobility pilot program parked where they're not supposed to be — in the middle of the sidewalk. For people who are blind or have sight loss, this can pose an injury risk, Niekamp said. And even if someone notices it ahead of time, there are still challenges. "The natural path around it may not be as obvious," said Niekamp, who lives with sight loss and is co-chair of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind's volunteer Nova Scotia strategic leadership council. "You may end up having to backtrack and reroute yourself, which can be really challenging, especially if you're new to blindness or low vision and you've only got a couple sort of routes that you feel really confident and safe doing." The devices are supposed to be taken from and dropped off in specific parking areas. But in the location where CBC News interviewed Niekamp on Monday, one scooter was seen outside the area marked off on the ground by white tape. Michelle Mahoney, who is a person with a disability and accessibility officer for the University of King's College, has seen the new scooters obstructing sidewalks multiple times. "That's not good," she said. The two-year pilot program launched on May 15 with the aim of improving urban transportation options. There are nearly 600 e-bikes and e-scooters now dotted around urban areas of Halifax and Dartmouth, according to Bird Canada, the company delivering the program. So far, riders have travelled more than 24,000 kilometres, with an average trip length of 2.8 kilometres, said Austin Spademan, head of government partnerships for the company. Bird has a team of 15 people who patrol the city to address issues, such as where the devices are parked. There will be more staff hired, he said. Spademan said the company also uses technology to prevent devices from being left in the middle of the sidewalk. "It's using Google AI to validate where that device is parked … basically to the centimetre level," he said. If a rider leaves a device outside of a designated parking area, they are given a warning. A fine is issued for a second infraction and a ban is issued on the third occasion. Spademan said no fines have been issued in Halifax. Based on other places across Canada where the company operates, he said people issued a warning do not reoffend in about 98 per cent of cases. On Monday, CBC observed and notified Spademan of a parking station on Brunswick Street that took up approximately half of the sidewalk's width. The company then moved the station to a different location the same day. In a statement, Halifax Regional Municipality spokesperson Laura Wright said the station did not meet accessibility criteria and that the city has been working with Bird to adjust and improve the locations. "Starting this week, additional shared micromobility parking locations will be located on-street, which will help to keep sidewalks clear," she wrote. For people with sight loss who use a white cane, Niekamp said having a raised lip around designated parking stations could help them navigate more easily. Accessibility is a "fundamental factor" of the pilot, Wright said. She said the municipality tracks misuse of the devices through 311 and Bird, with residents able to report incidents to the company directly.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
King's College in Halifax marks National Accessibility Awareness Week by donning red shirts
University of King's College in Halifax poses for a group photo on Red Shirt Day on May 28, 2025. (Source: universityofkingscollege) The University of King's College in Halifax came together Wednesday to mark Red Shirt Day. The event is held annually during National Accessibility Week to raise awareness and show support. 'All across Canada schools, organizations are wearing red today. Of course I stepped it up a notch and I'm wearing a red dress! But it's to show support for Canadians living with disabilities,' says Michelle Mahoney, King's accessibility officer. Mahoney lives with arthrogryposis, which affects her joints and muscles, causing her to have limited mobility in her arms, hands, and knees. She says people with disabilities deal with barriers every day. 'From getting into buildings, using accessible washrooms. I've noticed on the sidewalks there are new scooters with blue helmets and I often see them parked in the way for people with disabilities, so if somebody was going down the street in a wheelchair the scooter's going to be in their way,' she says. Mahoney said accessibility can be achieved by doing a lot of little things. 'But it can't be done in a day and when you do a lot of little things it really does make a big difference,' she says. More than a dozen staff and faculty members gathered for a photo on the steps of Kings in their red shirts that showed their support for accessibility, inclusion and equity. Mahoney says the crowd 'melted her heart.' 'This is our third year at Kings for people to wear red shirts and I mean just look at the crowd that came out, wasn't that amazing? People are taking accessibility seriously and I think that's great,' she says. At 37.9 per cent, Nova Scotia has the highest disability rate in Canada, according to Statistics Canada. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
