Good evening PMPS Parents & Caregivers,
I’m reaching out out of concern, as with the nicer weather we are seeing more students riding scooters to school. As already discussed, the traffic and conduct of community members is creating an unsafe environment for our community members.
In terms of scooters, what I have observed is that some students are riding without helmets, crossing roadways unsafely, travelling through parking lots, and at times riding with two people on one scooter.
Below is a reminder outlining the legislation related to scooter use. I am hoping that you will also take a moment to talk with your child if they ride a scooter, to ensure they are wearing a helmet and using their scooter safely.
I also want to update our school community about some behind‑the‑scenes work that is taking place to improve safety during morning drop‑off and afternoon pick‑up. As I have noted many times in my weekly updates, some members of our community continue to engage in unsafe behaviours, including double parking, parking in no‑parking zones or fire routes, blocking exits, and driving aggressively. Unfortunately, there have also been accidents and altercations, which are not appropriate for our students to witness or hear. PMPS was designed to be a walking school, and the area around it has difficulty accommodating the high volume of traffic in the mornings and afternoons, especially during inclement weather.
Over the past few years, I have allocated a portion of our school budget toward improving parking lot safety and community education. Despite these efforts, my staff and I have at times been subjected to disrespectful behaviour from individuals who refuse to follow the established rules.
Thanks to the advocacy of a concerned parent who contacted the Town of Orangeville, Dufferin OPP, and the County, a committee of community partnership has now been formed. This group is committed to improving traffic flow and safety around our school. A meeting is planned in the coming weeks to discuss next steps. There was already a small meeting of members that came to school to see the challenges first hand.
This morning, I was able to be outside during drop‑off with Officer Andrew, where we discussed some of the changes that may be coming. While observing on a relatively quiet morning, we witnessed double parking, near‑miss collisions, and unsafe manoeuvres, parking in restricted areas, and altercations between frustrated drivers. Officer Andrew was clear that this is not solely a Princess Margaret issue, but rather a Town of Orangeville and policing concern, and support will be provided to help address it in the weeks ahead. Expect an increased police and town presence.
Officer Andrew has been monitoring traffic patterns in our community over the past several weeks and spoken with several drivers today who were not following parking and traffic regulations.
I will continue to keep our community informed as changes are implemented to make drop‑off and pick‑up safer for everyone. As always, our shared goal is to ensure the safety and well‑being of all students. In the meantime, please consider how you can help with the situation. Can your student walk to school? Park at the Train station or a side street that allows parking? Do you park and then get out to talk with community members, taking up valuable drop off space? Do you park in our fire route for ‘one quick minute’ and block staff who are trying to access the parking lot or our special needs buses? Do you park in areas where there is no parking etc… If we all consider each other, we can create a safer environment for our students.
Thank you for your consideration and support.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal
Scooter Device Requirements:
Wheels & Motor: Must have two wheels and an electric motor no more than 500 watts.
Speed: Maximum speed of 24 km/h on a level surface.
Braking System: Must have a braking system capable of stopping the scooter within 9 metres at 24 km/h.
Safety Features: Requires a standing platform, a handlebar, a horn or bell, at least one white front light, one red rear light, and reflective material on the sides.
Maintenance: The e-scooter and all its components must be kept in good working order.
Modifications: Motor modifications that increase power or speed are not allowed.
Scooter Rider Requirements:
Age: You must be at least 16 years old to operate an e-scooter.
Helmet: You must wear a helmet if you are under 18.
Standing: You must always stand while riding.
Passengers & Cargo: You are not permitted to carry passengers or cargo.
Rules of the Road: E-scooter operators must follow the rules of the road as outlined in Ontario's Highway Traffic Act (HTA).
Where You Can Ride:
E-scooters are permitted on public roadways in municipalities that have opted into the provincial e-scooter pilot program and have passed a by-law to allow them.
You cannot operate an e-scooter on controlled access highways (such as the 400-series highways).
Always check with your local municipality for their specific e-scooter policies, as they may have further restrictions on where e-scooters can be ridden.
Scooter Penalties:
Violating e-scooter rules can result in significant fines under the Highway Traffic Act, ranging from $250 to $2,500.