. Both owners say they’re providing transportation solutions that help get people out of their cars, it’s a booming business, and there is work to be done in shaping the rules.
With his company, riders use an app to book an e-scooter and park it when they reach their destination. With HFX e-Scooters, riders park the rentals in designated areas identified in the app. “This is me trying to give the city freedom and convenience to pick an e-scooter up wherever you want and take it wherever you want. Say it’s 2 a.m. and there are no more buses running and you need a ride, you could pick up one of the e-scooters and drive it right to your front step by the street. Either we pick it up or somebody else who’s on the app will find the scooter and they’ll pick it up to drive.
“I would definitely like to work with them rather than against them because … it’s going to restrict the point of the business. The point of the business is to give people freedom outside, to give them the extra means of travel where buses don’t go or where they can’t access.”Max Rastelli, owner of HFX e-Scooters, recently tucked away his fleet of 100 e-scooters for the season.
“I really hope the city does not force upon us operators, companies like us, physical infrastructure like docking stations where you might see in cities like Toronto,” he said. Rastelli said he’s hoping to find a middle ground with designated parking areas and if riders don’t park there, the rental isn’t considered complete or they are charged a fee.