Montreal teenager recovering after e-scooter hit-and-run on Hochelaga bike path

Shawn John David was riding his bicycle with his brother on the Notre-Dame Street bike path near Sicard and Louis-Payette streets in Hochelaga on October 11 when an e-scooter approached at high speed. "The man on the e-scooter was going faster than the speed limit. He wasn't really staying in his lane either. He was partly in the other lane, and there just wasn't enough space for both of us," David said. Both riders were blinded by the scooter's bright lights. David swerved to avoid a collision and crashed into a tree, breaking his bicycle in two. He was unconscious at the scene and later hospitalized. His brother was unharmed. The e-scooter rider did not stop.

David, now out of hospital, is recovering but faces an uncertain path forward. He is not eligible for Quebec's automobile insurance compensation program (SAAQ) because no car was involved. His family explored the provincial crime victims' assistance program (IVAQ), but were told there were limitations to their case. Police told the family that a hit-and-run classification requires contact between the riders—a standard that effectively punishes David for avoiding a collision.

"To be told at a police station, or by anyone, that I should have just caused an accident, crashed into him, hit someone, just so I could get something in return, that's something I can't even imagine doing," David said.

Jean-François Rheault, CEO of Vélo Québec, called the Notre-Dame bike path "one of the worst in Montreal." He noted that "many stakeholders have mentioned to the city and the provincial government that this bike path needed to be upgraded." Rheault also pointed to systemic gaps: "The quality of the collision data is not good enough. For instance, we don't have a separate category for e-bikes. They're just classified in regular bikes. Also, we do not collect data when a motorized vehicle is not involved. That's also a problem."

David's mother, Karine David, said she feared her son could become paraplegic. "It really scared me because he was telling me he could become paraplegic. I know Shawn. He loves being active, he loves going to the gym. Now he won't be able to do those..."