The operator of an E-bike must comply with restrictions under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA). The operator must be 16 years of age, wear a helmet (regardless of age), must have a bell, white front light and a red rear light and no modifications that allow increase of speed or power. Maximum speed of these E-bikes is 32kms/h. The driver must obey all the rules of the road, not be on sidewalks, must stop if directed by police and properly identify themselves.
The confusion does come apparent when people are driving a motor assisted bicycle (moped) and low speed motorcycles. These become motor vehicles as defined under the HTA. These are different in that they have fitted pedals but have an attached motor driven by electricity and does obtain speeds up to 50kms/h. These motor assisted bicycles the bike must have front and rear wheel brakes, the operator must be 16years of age or older, must have an approved motorcycle helmet, must have an appropriate driver's licence (i.e. M1, M2 or M or restricted M2 or M with L endorsement) must have a permit and moped plate and must have insurance, no passengers are allowed.
Criminal Code offences also apply to the E-bikes as it is considered a motor vehicle under the Criminal Code of Canada. If the driver has charges stemming from criminal activity the person is not allowed to operate an E-bike.
For any other information and clarification on power assisted bicycles or power/electric scooters please refer to Ministry of Transportation website at http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/e-bike-faq.shtml.
Actually ebikes come in a wide spectrum of varieties, the most popular seems to be the conventional style and the scooter style. While conventional style does come in a pedelec that requires pedaling for accelerator control, most are a hybrid where you have a choice of pedelec pedaling for accelerator control) or hand/thumb throttle control. Scooter style usually has the choice of hand throttle control or pedal only.
ReplyDeleteThere should be no confusion. All ebikes of all stripes are required to have pedals attached, and when was the last time you actually saw a moped (motor assisted bicycle)? There are probably now 1000 or less mopeds, which require attached pedals, registered in the Province of Ontario, and both mopeds and LSMs require a license plate attached. LSMs do not require any pedals.
The operator of an ebike must comply with restrictions under the HTA. The operator must be 16 years of age, wear an approved bicycle or motorcycle helmet regardless of age, must have a bell, horn or gong, white or amber front light and red rear light or reflector if operating 1/2 hr. after sunrise and 1/2 hr before sunset or when otherwise cannot be seen at 150 ft. Just to clarify, no lights are required during most of the day. No modifications to exceed maximim power and/or speed of course. The driver must obey all the rules of the road, stop if directed by police and properly identify themselves. A verbal statement of correct name and address is sufficient identification. Sidewalk riding is not in the HTA, only crosswalk riding is forbidden in the HTA. Sidewalk riding is governed by municipal bylaws so ebikes may or may not be allowed on sidewalks depending on the current state of the local bylaws in your area.