This week’s topics:
- Missing 15-year-old.
- E-bikes and E-scooters – The rules I and maybe you didn’t know.
If you’re interested in helping out, see our Neighbourhood Watch Page.
– Alex
—– Forwarded Message —–
Subject: Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for June 22, 2020
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2020 12:14:49 -0400
From: Darren Joseph <wellingtoncpc@gmail.com>
The Ottawa Police Service is asking for the public’s assistance in locating missing young man, Dayquon Zulu, 15 years old, of Ottawa. Dayquon was reported missing to Ottawa Police on June 13th. He was last seen in the South end of Ottawa. His family is concerned for his safety.
Dayquon is described as a young man, 5’2” (157cm), 180 lbs (82kg), brown hair that is braided, brown eyes and both ears that are pierced.
Anyone with information about the current whereabouts of Dayquon is asked to call the Ottawa Police at 613-236-1222.
If you have information that could assist investigators, but do not know where he is currently, please contact the Missing Persons Unit 613-236-1222, ext. 2355, between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, daily.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca
2. E-bikes and E-scooters
With the warm weather here, you may feel like investing in an E-scooter or E-bike as an alternate method of commuting. The Ottawa Police would like to share some information on the regulations around these methods of transportation.
“We remind the operators of these alternative low cost, energy efficient and emissions-free vehicles to do so in respect of this new legislation,” said Sgt. Rob Cairns, Ottawa Police Traffic Unit Supervisor.
Although you do not need a licence, insurance or registration, you must be at least 16 years old to operate an electric kick-scooter as well as an E-Bike.
E-Bikes
When operating an E-Bike you need to wear, at a minimum, a bicycle helmet.
There are specific regulations that advise that an E-Bike can go no faster than 32km/h on a roadway and that any modification to an E-Bike, such as removing the pedals or adapting the power source, classifies the E-Bike as a motorcycle, for which you need an M licence, insurance and registration. Read more here.
Although you do not need a license to operate an E-Bike, it is considered a vehicle under the Criminal Code, which means you cannot operate it if you are impaired or if you are a disqualified driver.
E-Scooters also known as electric kick-scooters
The Highway Traffic Act states that:
- It is to be operated in bike lanes or on the shoulder of a roadway.
- These scooters are to be equipped with a horn or bell.
- They also need to be equipped with a lamp if operated anytime between dusk (30 minutes before sunset) and dawn (30 minutes before sunrise).
- You cannot carry a passenger or cargo on an electric kick-scooter.
- If the operator is under 18 years old they must wear a bicycle helmet.
The Ottawa City By-law adds that E-Scooters:
- are permitted on streets with a posted/unposted speed of 50km/h or less
- are permitted in reserved use bike lanes, cycle tracks and multi-use pathways
- are not permitted to be ridden on sidewalks.
For both the E-Scooters and E-Bikes you are required to stop and identify yourself when asked to by an officer.
“Regardless of what type of vehicle you are operating on the roadway, you should always obey these two guidelines in order to avoid injury or even death: be aware of your surroundings and share the road,” added Staff Sergeant Marc-André Sheehy, manager of the Traffic Unit.
If you are involved in a collision that results in an injury or property damage, you are required to report the collision to the police. If the injury is life-threatening, call 911 immediately; if it is property damage, call 613-236-1222.
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Questions and information may be sent directly to:
Cst. Darren Joseph (west of O-Train) at josephd@ottawapolice.ca
Cst. Stephanie Lemieux (east of O-Train) at lemieuxs@ottawapolice.ca