(Image Credit: Victor Kaisar/CFJC Today)

By Victor Kaisar

Active Transportation

City launches rental e-bikes and e-scooters in Kamloops

Mar 2, 2026 | 8:50 AM

KAMLOOPS — Shared e-scooters and e-bikes have officially hit the streets of Kamloops giving residents and visitors another way to get around the city.

The City of Kamloops announced Monday (March 2) that e-bikes and e-scooters can now be rented though a partnership with Bird Canada.

Transportation Manager Purvez Irani says 255 e-scooters and 45 e-bikes will gradually be introduced to the streets of Kamloops by the end of next week. It’ll start with the downtown core and the Tranquille corridors, though service will be adjusted based on trip patterns and demand.

“We joined the provincial pilot after four years so we wanted to learn what to learn what communities were doing right and what were some of the lessons we could learn from them,” Irani said. “We’ve applied it to our roll out in Kamloops.”

100 Mile House emergency department closed Monday

9h ago

Highway 5 North

B.C. launches Highway 5 North speed data collection project

10h ago

Week in Review

Week In Review: Week of March 16

Mar 21, 2026

Irani said the rollout of these rentable vehicles is aimed at providing choices to people who cannot – or do not – want to use their cars or motorcycles to get around.

“This is first and last mile if you will to transit, so it could be a combination of different modes of transportation,” Irani added. “Hopefully, we can reduce our carbon footprint and these strides we are making in our community.”

“It aims to ease congestion during peak periods and offer a healthy lifestyle by encouraging everyday outdoor physical movement.”

As part of the pilot, which is set to end in April 2028, communities are allowed to set their own rules around the use of e-scooters. In Kamloops, there is no riding on streets with speed limits above 50 km/h. All users must be at least 16-years-old, and only one person is allowed per bike or scooter.

Helmets are provided and they are mandatory.

“There is a safety orientation when you sign up and it talks about wearing your helmet and other procedures you have to follow,” Irani said. “I believe you also have to take selfie with your helmet to show that you are wearing on.”

“You are not allowed ride them on the sidewalk, you are supposed to ride them in a designated bike lane or on a multi use pathway where cyclists are allowed. If there is no bike facility, you can ride at the far-most part of the travel lane, on a road designated at 50 km/h or less.”

You’ll need to sign up through the Bird Canada app to rent these e-scooters and e-bikes. A single ride costs $1.15 to start and $0.35 per minute, with a $2.50 minimum. Longer rides cost $9.99 for 45 minutes, $14.99 for an hour, $24.99 for two hours, or $49.99 for five hours.

Riders can also use the code RIDEKAM to get their first ride for free through the app.

When you’re done, Irani notes these vehicles – which can be used in Westsyde, Batchelor Heights, Brocklehurst, North Kamloops, downtown, Sahali, Aberdeen, Pineview, Juniper Ridge and Valleyview – will also have to be parked in designated areas identified within the map.

“Your time keeps running if you don’t return it to a designated location,” Irani said. “They’re also geofenced so you can only ride these on certain routes. Basically, if you don’t store it property, your credit card is charged accordingly.”

Dark blue dots represent designated parking spaces within the Bird Canada app while light blue dots represent available e-bikes and e-scooters. (Image Credit: Bird Canada)

The city says people can test out an e-bike or e-scooter on Ride and Roll Community Day on Saturday, March 21 between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Sandman Centre.

More information about the City of Kamloops’ electric kick scooter pilot including rules and regulations can be found here.

– With files from Michael Reeve and Aaron Schulze/CFJC Today