Vancouver Police issue 100 tickets to e-scooter riders in first two days of Project Vigilance
VPD's Project Vigilance moves from warnings to tickets: 100 riders cited in two days, mostly for riding without a helmet or on the sidewalk.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on vancouver.citynews.ca.
Vancouver Police issued 100 tickets to e-scooter riders in the first two days of Project Vigilance, the VPD's fall traffic safety campaign. CityNews Vancouver reported on Wednesday that most tickets went to riders without helmets, with sidewalk riding the second most common offence.
Sgt. Adam Donaldson told CityNews Vancouver that an earlier round of the campaign, run in September, gave riders warnings. That has changed.
"This portion of the project, it's all going to be about enforcement. So, there's going to be fewer warnings going out and more tickets," Donaldson said.
What officers are ticketing
According to Donaldson, four behaviours get e-scooter riders a ticket during Project Vigilance: riding without a helmet, riding on the sidewalk, travelling above 25 kilometres per hour, and lane splitting.
Since the weekend, more officers have been stationed downtown to enforce the rules. Donaldson said helmets were the most ticketed offence in the first two days of the campaign.
Why the enforcement ramp-up
The campaign runs during the fall, when shorter days and wet weather make road conditions more dangerous for all road users. Donaldson said the decision to move to tickets reflects the need to change rider behaviour.
Haakin Koyote from Vision Zero told CityNews Vancouver that e-scooters fill a real need in the city and are not going away.
"They are new, but we have to figure out how to accommodate them," Koyote said.
Koyote added that true safety for both riders and drivers will require infrastructure changes, including bike lanes, to give e-scooter riders a space that is not the sidewalk or the road.
What riders should know now
If you ride an e-scooter in Vancouver, Donaldson's message is clear: wear a helmet, stay off the sidewalk, keep speed at or below 25 kilometres per hour, and do not split lanes. Those are the four offences drawing tickets during Project Vigilance. VPD has not said when this enforcement phase will end.
Questions this story answers
How many e-scooter tickets did Vancouver Police issue under Project Vigilance?
In the first two days of enforcement, VPD issued 100 tickets to e-scooter riders, according to CityNews Vancouver's report on November 11, 2026. The most common offence was riding without a helmet, and the second most common was riding on the sidewalk.
What are the rules for riding an e-scooter in Vancouver?
Vancouver Police say e-scooter riders must wear a helmet, stay off sidewalks, keep speed at or below 25 kilometres per hour, and avoid splitting lanes. These are the four offences officers cited most during the first two days of Project Vigilance enforcement.
What is VPD's Project Vigilance?
Project Vigilance is a Vancouver Police Department traffic-safety campaign launched during the fall season, when darker days and heavier rain make roads more dangerous. It focuses on e-scooter riders as well as drivers and cyclists more broadly, according to Sgt. Adam Donaldson.
Are Vancouver police giving warnings to e-scooter riders, or straight tickets?
As of November 2026, VPD is giving tickets, not warnings. Sgt. Adam Donaldson told CityNews Vancouver: 'This portion of the project, it's all going to be about enforcement. So, there's going to be fewer warnings going out and more tickets.' A September 2026 campaign gave warnings; that approach has ended.
What happens if you ride an e-scooter on the sidewalk in Vancouver?
Riding on the sidewalk is the second most common offence VPD is ticketing during Project Vigilance. Officers say riders who use sidewalks can expect a ticket under the current enforcement phase of the campaign.
What speed limit applies to e-scooters in Vancouver?
E-scooters in Vancouver must stay at or below 25 kilometres per hour, according to Sgt. Adam Donaldson of the Vancouver Police Department, as reported by CityNews Vancouver on November 11, 2026. Exceeding that limit is one of the four offences VPD is ticketing during Project Vigilance, alongside no helmet, sidewalk riding, and lane splitting.
What did Vision Zero say about e-scooter enforcement in Vancouver?
Haakin Koyote from Vision Zero told CityNews Vancouver that e-scooters are here to stay and that making streets safe for all users will also require infrastructure improvements, such as dedicated bike lanes, to give riders a designated space that is neither the sidewalk nor the main road.
What should Vancouver e-scooter riders do to avoid a ticket?
According to Sgt. Adam Donaldson and the VPD, riders should wear a helmet, stay on the road or in a bike lane (not the sidewalk), keep speed at or below 25 kilometres per hour, and ride in a single lane without splitting. VPD is enforcing these rules in the current phase of Project Vigilance.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
Found an error? Tell the editors with the corrections form. A correction is noted on the story it changes. Read our standards.
