The City of Burlington, Ontario, is a lakeside community between Toronto and Niagara Falls with a population of about 200,000, a strong labour force, and high education levels. Named as one of Canada’s best mid-sized cities to live in, Burlington emphasizes community engagement and effective governance. Initiatives like “Food for Feedback” and the “Deputy Mayor with Portfolio” program—launched in 2022 by Mayor Marianne Meed Ward—promote collaboration across six strategic areas. The Deputy Mayor for Environment oversees climate and mobility initiatives, including the city’s Integrated Mobility Plan, which focuses on eight pillars: affordability, land use alignment, connected mobility, health and safety, innovation, congestion management, efficiency, and sustainability.

Earlier this year, the City of Burlington launched a controlled e-scooter pilot with deployment on the Centennial Trail. The program supports the city’s Integrated Mobility Plan goals—innovation, connectivity, sustainability, and efficient movement. After over a decade of studying micromobility trends, Burlington developed a structured approach guided by its Future State of Transportation Whitepaper and Integrated Mobility Plan.

The city partnered with SCOOTY, a Canadian operator. The City selected SCOOTY for their phased, collaborative approach and strong focus on integrating micromobility with public transit. SCOOTY works with Metrolinx and GO Transit on a “Transit to Your Doorstep” system and received $1 million from the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network to develop a patented AI-based trip planner and payment system. Burlington’s partnership with SCOOTY and the TransForm Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University brings research-driven insights aiming to ensure the program’s success and alignment with best practices. 

The City of Burlington values its NABSA membership for providing access to a network of North American communities with bikeshare and scootershare programs. “After nearly a decade of exploring micromobility, attending the 2023 NABSA Hamilton-Toronto conference motivated the City to launch its own program, following completion of its Integrated Mobility Plan. The conference offered valuable insights on integrating micromobility with local and regional transit systems.”

To learn more about the City of Burlington visit: https://www.burlington.ca