E-scooters could boost local economy in Saskatoon, business owner says

Local business owner Ben Quattrini says Saskatoon already has "world-class" transportation options — but he wants to add one more. He is hoping to bring a fleet of electric scooters to the city, and is hoping to get City Council's approval for the project. 

Quattrini — who owns The Shoe Boutique on Broadway Avenue, as well as other businesses — presented to the City's transportation committee last week, arguing an e-scooter program would be highly beneficial to the city and that there has "never been a better time" to introduce one.

"It keeps tourism dollars here at home in Saskatoon [and] really supports local businesses — and when have they needed support more?" said Quartrini. "[It would] drive traffic to our local businesses from the communities where people live."

In terms of the practicalities of riders finding and booking an e-scooter, Quattrini says it would be an app-based system. 

"You download the app and use the app to locate a unit," he explained. "It's a dollar to unlock a unit, and then only 35 cents per minute for usage. And what's nice with that is it really makes that program accessible to just about anybody in the community."

The e-scooters would also be dockless, meaning they could live anywhere in the city. For Quartrini, this is a major selling point of the program — unlike the bus system with its pre-defined stops, an e-scooter can take you exactly where you need to go. 

Quattrini does acknowledge the challenges that come with bringing a fleet of e-scooters to a city. In other places where they have been implemented, there has been controversy over which types of roads and pathways they can drive on, as well as concerns about the scooters' safety and maintenance. 

For his part, Quattrini says e-scooters are "incredibly safe," and that his business would play a large role in keeping everything running smoothly. 

"It's up to the operator to be ultra-responsible in terms of how we actually operate the program," he said. "We specifically have a plan to have a team on the ground 24 hours a day, seven days a week charging the units, disinfecting the units and relocating them." 

And, if the City ultimately approves of having e-scooters in Saskatoon, Quattrini's business would work closely with it to implement its plans. 

"What we need to launch one of these programs is a framework," Quattrini said. "It's basically a rulebook as to how this works — safety protocols, what they require from operators in terms of things like insurance, how long we have to move units that are improperly placed — just stuff like that. 

"Once [the City] comes up with the framework, we're prepared to do the rest and actually implement the program." 

City Councillor David Kirton says administration is looking into this issue, and expects a report will appear in front of council in April.