KW and Cambridge embrace micromobility
Waterloo Region riders clock thousands of hours on scooters
The orange electric scooters people are renting in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge have collectively logged 550,000 kilometres since the program was launched 15 months ago, including 153,000 kilometres during 2024, says Isaac Ransom, a company spokesperson.
Neuron Mobility launched operations in the Tri-Cities in April 2023, and since then the e-scooters and e-bicycles have become common on trails and shared pathways. But nobody, including the company, expected to have so many people to embrace micromobility.
“Waterloo Region has been surprisingly consistent in terms of usage,” said Ransom in a telephone interview from his Toronto office. “There is sustained ridership and a high utilization rate, particularly in Kitchener-Waterloo, which is really good.”
The shared multi-use pathway between Kitchener-Waterloo, the Iron Horse, now has lights and was widened in recent years. It connects the residential areas around the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University to the festivals and events in Victoria Park and Downtown Kitchener.
The survey data collected by Neuron shows the e-scooters and ebikes reduce traffic congestion — improving air quality — and improve mobility.
The average trip time recorded so far in 2024 is 12.5 minutes, and the average distance 1.9 kms. The longest trip this year was 9 kms.
About 64 per cent people riding the scooters and bikes stop at some point and spend an average of $46 at a local business. So, collectively, they spent more than $8.2 million. When asked where they are spending money, 31% of riders said they made purchases at shopping venues, 21% at a restaurant, bar or café, and 21% at a recreational venue like a gym or a local event. And 14 per cent said the trips would never have happened if the scooters or bikes were not available.
While they increased revenues for some local businesses, they decreased carbon emissions dioxide emissions by 20 tonnes in 2023, as 43 per cent of the trips on scooters and bikes replaced the use of a car.
Neuron Mobility’s detailed survey of riders also shows different reasons for the using the scooters and bikes. The biggest reasons — 58 per cent — was for recreation and leisure, exploring cafés, restaurants and the cities. But 45 per cent reported using the scooters or bikes for commuting to work, 30 per cent for running errands and 24 per cent for connecting to public transit.
Neuron Mobility now operates in 17 cities across Canada, adding Edmonton to the list earlier this year. One of the cities with the highest usage is Calgary, where the scooters and bikes are deployed all year long, thanks to the mild temperatures from the Chinooks.
“You have some really resilient riders who use the scooters and bikes through the winter in Calgary,” said Ransom. He describes Calgary as a mature market for Neuron. “Even in Lethbridge last year we ran well into December and January.”
Every city has unique characteristics that influence ridership, including tourism, weather and terrain. Some of the highest usage in this region is centred around King Street North and University Avenue in Waterloo where thousands of students live, study and work.
“Every city has a different flavour to it, but Waterloo has been a very high-performing city,” said Ransom. “It’s exciting, and it is one we are happy to be in.”
This is one of the few Canadian markets for Neuron where riders cross municipal boundaries with ease. In addition to multi-use pathways like the Iron Horse Trail, the Laurel Trail and the Spur Line Trail, the scooters also operate on many roads and streets. The technology — known as geofencing — shuts them down when riders try to go on sidewalks though.
Most of the riders — 58 per cent — are 16-24 years old. The next largest demographic of riders are 2534 year olds (25%), followed by 35-44 year olds (9%) and the remaining eight per cent are 45 and over.
A report released by Neuron says it expanded service in August 2023 to the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College. The geofencing was extended to the campuses .
“With over half of our riders being 16-24 year olds, this suggests that the region’s thriving student community is significantly reliant on e-scooters for their daily commute,” says the report.
“It has been quite good,” said Ransom of the deployment in Waterloo Region.