Electric unicyclists urge BC government to allow them on streets | Daily Hive

Bradley Spence/Submitted

Electric unicyclists in Vancouver are urging the BC government to amend its transportation laws to allow the one-wheeled devices on streets.

Bradley Spence, CEO of Eevees, wants the government to immediately expand the e-scooter pilot program to include electric unicycles, one-wheels, and e-skateboards — he believes it’s a no-brainer for a province focused on environmentally friendly transportation.

Long-term, he wants the Motor Vehicle Act amended to include new definitions for these micro-mobility devices.

“The government needs to act quicker to make these changes and stop giving ridiculous $598 fine for something that is essentially a one-wheeled eBike,” he told Daily Hive Urbanized.

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Spence’s comments come after Vancouver Police Department officers have given a rash of tickets to electric unicycle users in recent months. They’ve handed out fines of just under $600 for riding the devices without insurance — even though the Insurance Corporation of BC doesn’t sell insurance for them.

For riders who’ve been ticketed, it’s an extremely frustrating situation.

“A lot of people might buy this kind of vehicle because they can’t afford a car, because they can’t afford gas,” Matthew McCormick told Daily Hive Urbanized. “It’s really going to harm them.”

Some riders, including Gabe Kwok, have challenged the fines in court with help from Eevee’s lawyers. One ticket was cleared because the rider was on the sidewalk at the time — and no insurance tickets only apply on roadways. Kwok’s ticket on Main Street was scratched because the police officer who issued it didn’t show up.

“I was confused and a little bit angry,” Kwok said of the fine. “Because I’ve been riding for seven months with over 3,000 kilometres on my unicycle without issue.”

When Daily Hive Urbanized asked BC’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for answers, it simply said electric unicycles weren’t legal on BC streets — and could only be ridden on private property.

“The Motor Vehicle Act does not permit people to use devices such as solowheels, hoverboards, or electric skateboards and unicycles on public roads, including sidewalks,” a ministry spokesperson told Daily Hive Urbanized.

But for Spence, shrugging off the problem isn’t enough. He’ll continue lobbying the government until he sees changes in the framework that allow his customers to ride legally.