The City of Cold Lake says it has guidance from the provincial government on how enclosed electric mobility scooters—specifically the Gio brand—should be classified.

Council has declined to participate in an Alberta pilot program to test the idea of allowing mini-vehicles such as golf carts or Gios to use public roadways. 

Mobility scooters are permitted to allow users to go anywhere a pedestrian is allowed. When a scooter is on a public roadway, users are to obey the traffic regulations that apply to bicycles.

Since October, council has been considering whether the Gio is a mobility scooter or belongs in another classification. According to a City of Cold Lake news release, the province has made it clear they belong in a category with golf carts.

Wendy Ballachay, whose husband Kelly uses a Gio, says the vehicles should be permitted on city streets and treated like a bicycle. But she said they should not be permitted on provincial highways, such as Highway 28 through Cold Lake.

“I believe that they should be allowed to go anywhere a pedestrian goes,” Ballachay said. “But if their mode of transportation does not fit where the pedestrian goes, they should be allowed to follow bicycle rules.”

She said the vehicle gives some disabled people another option for independence. 

But Cold Lake mayor Craig Copeland says the size and speed of the Gio—up to 29 kilometres per hour—makes it unsuitable to be considered a mobility aid. “Although some companies market them as mobility devices, they are much larger, heavier, and faster than what is commonly known as a mobility aid,” he said.

“They are too big to enter stores, public buildings, and traverse the aisles like a mobility aid, and too fast to share public pedestrian walkways. At the same time, they are not fast enough to safely travel stretches of Highway 28, and so it seems that these vehicles are not a good fit for the Cold Lake context,” Copeland said.

Ballachay says different disabilities require different mobility strategies.

“The thing is, not all disabilities are the same,” she said. Her husband is able to walk store aisles with a cane, but cannot walk or pedal a bike to the store. Since he is unable to drive a car, his Gio allows him to get around independently.

“There’s many people that look perfectly functional who cannot get to where they need to go because it’s too far,” she said.

Ballachay said a false report that a Gio was involved in a collision with a pedestrian on the city’s Millenium Trail is contributing to feelings against the vehicles.

With the city not participating in the provincial pilot program, Gios will not be allowed on public roads, highways, or the Millennium Trail. Their use would be restricted to private property. 

“Although we were given the option to participate in the pilot project and look at regulations to allow golf carts or mini vehicles on public streets, council decided not to pursue it at this time,” Copeland said. 

“We cannot support Gios, or any other mini vehicle, driving up and down the highway between Cold Lake North and South. They also cannot safely use the Millennium Trail. And so there does not seem to be a strong use case for them in Cold Lake unless specific infrastructure was created to accommodate them.”

Ballachay agrees they should not be permitted on the highway, but feels further restrictions are unfair. “This is taking on a group of disabled people who chose to buy a different mode of mobility aid,” she said.

“I start with my husband and I use him as an example. He has turned into the most independent person I know. He’s owned four mobility scooters since he had his stroke, and the other three were open scooters. Then he got this and it’s changed his life,” she said.

“Having your own personal independence is priceless.”

Ballachay says she intends to present the  Gio owners’ case to council. 

Meanwhile, the city says Municipal Enforcement will be educating Gio owners of the legislation prohibiting their use on public roadways.