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Electric Scooters in Quebec: 25 km/h Is the Limit

Quebec is relaunching its e-scooter safety campaign. A reminder of the rules for riding legally — speed, age, helmet, and where you can ride.

Vieauqc TeamJuly 27, 2026
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Electric scooters are everywhere in the city — and they come with rules. The Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable is relaunching its safety campaign this year on motorized personal transportation devices. The main message is simple: on an electric scooter, the maximum allowed speed is 25 km/h.

These aren't brand-new rules. They come from a pilot project in place since 2023 that governs the use of these devices in Quebec. This summer's campaign simply reminds people of them, with particular attention to young people aged 14 to 25 — but they apply to everyone.

The essential rules for riding legally. Per the July 27, 2026 announcement, on top of the 25 km/h limit, you must:

  • follow the same traffic rules as cyclists;
  • be at least 14 years old;
  • wear a helmet at all times;
  • carry no passengers;
  • ride only on roads where the limit is 50 km/h or less, including their bike lanes.

Why 25 km/h. The Ministry frames the limit not as a mere constraint but as a concrete way to reduce the risk of accidents and share the road better with pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. Full details are on the Government of Quebec's Rules for riding an electric scooter page.

Good to know for newcomers: before buying or renting an electric scooter, remember the two things that cost the most in fines or accidents: the mandatory helmet and the ban on riding on major roads (over 50 km/h). When in doubt about a route, the simple rule is "like a bike": if a cyclist wouldn't ride there, neither should you.

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