Josh Hunter, who has been organizing night rides on personal electric vehicles (PEVs) in Edmonton for five years, led a diverse group of electric scooters, bikes, skateboards, and unicycles on a recent Friday evening at the Alberta Legislature grounds for an early season tour. While PEVs are primarily seen as cost-effective and eco-friendly transportation for daily commuters, they are increasingly popular as a social leisure activity in Canadian cities after sunset.
Although Hunter’s group, PEV Edmonton, officially starts its season in June, a group of around twenty riders was eager to embark on a nighttime adventure through the city’s river valley pathways and streets due to the warm weather forecast. Describing it as a modern-day biker group, Hunter humorously mentioned that participants of all age groups are welcome as long as they have a PEV and wear a helmet, which is strictly enforced within the group.
During the night ride, many riders customized their PEVs with vibrant lights and mirrors, proudly discussing the motor wattage of their vehicles. However, not everyone exploring Edmonton on a PEV that Friday evening was an enthusiast. Various groups of people on rental e-scooters from companies like Lime, Neuron, and Bird were also seen casually roaming the city center, enjoying the sights without a specific destination.
Among the riders, Habib Baalbaki and Zeinab Awada, a recently married couple, mentioned that scooting together was a fun date idea, with Baalbaki likening it to “walking on steroids.” On the other hand, Kyson Fitzner, riding with friends, expressed his enjoyment of nighttime rides for the excitement and adrenaline rush, demonstrating his skills by jumping a curb on his e-scooter.
Companies operating rental e-scooter and e-bike programs in Canada reported strong ridership during evening hours. Bird’s Anastasia Rewers-Kusiak noted increased usage from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., especially on weekends, while Neuron’s Isaac Ransom highlighted that a significant portion of their trips occurred during the nighttime economy, with approximately half of users in Red Deer riding for recreational purposes.
Additionally, social media groups in cities like Ottawa, Vancouver, and Halifax also organize post-dusk e-vehicle rides. Participants in PEV Edmonton’s tours, such as Kara Dejong and Trevor Neufeld, emphasized the attention these group rides attract, with Neufeld expressing his passion for riding and dedication to the activity.
Despite the growing popularity of PEVs, there has been an increase in e-scooter-related injuries across Canada, prompting safety concerns and varying regulations among cities regarding scooter usage. To promote safe riding behavior, companies like Lime emphasize visibility, use of bike lanes, and prohibition of riding under the influence. Riders like Neufeld take precautions by wearing protective gear, while others, like Damon Spence, remain vigilant while riding rental scooters in downtown Edmonton.
As the appeal of nighttime e-vehicle rides continues to grow, riders like Neufeld and Spence appreciate the affordability and enjoyment these activities offer on a regular basis during the summer months.
