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“These scooters are motor vehicles driven in a public space by someone who is not licensed, they don’t have a licence plate and are not insured,” said David Lepofsky, a longtime advocate and chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance. “This presents a safety issue for the entire public.”

The government sets out a series of rules for the proposed pilot but does not provide a potential start date.

Prospective rules for drivers include a minimum age of 16 and a ban on carrying passengers.

The e-scooters cannot exceed a maximum operating speed of 32 kilometres per hour, the proposal said. They must also have a horn or bell, front and back lights, and cannot weigh more than 45 kilograms.

The government said its proposal would allow for feasibility studies that promote road safety on “environmentally friendly vehicles” while also “fostering business innovation.”

“This will allow the ministry to ensure e-scooters can be safely integrated with other road users before a final, permanent, regulatory decision is made,” the government plan said.

Posted quietly on the province’s regulatory registry on Wednesday, the consultation period was initially set to close two days later just ahead of the Labour Day long weekend.

Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney took to social media late Thursday to announce the consultation had been extended to Sept. 12 and apologized for the confusion.

Lepofsky said even the extension does not allow enough time to gather meaningful feedback, noting most public consultation periods tend to last for at least a month. He said the government should withdraw its proposal, begin comprehensive research and release it to the public when its done.