New - 2009 - Canadian EBike laws
Posted by Gary Ares
Electric Bicycles ("e-bikes") laws in Canada starting October 2009
Who cares? Well this should be a wake up call for many that unless this was an important topic it would not been addressed. Believe VeloChef...it's a big deal, and getting bigger every year.
Great news!!! E bikes can be operated on roads in Ontario, Canada. Additionally, eight Canadian jurisdictions (British Columbia, Alberta,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador
and the Yukon Territory) have legalized power-assisted bicycles for
public road use and are treating these vehicles as conventional
bicycles and not as motor vehicles. Of these eight jurisdictions, four
have a minimum age requirement - the requirement is 12 years in
Alberta, 14 in Manitoba and 16 in British Columbia and Quebec.
Below you will find, information which is sourced directly from the Ontario government's website, which is why it sounds so official.
The province of Ontario
conducted a three-year pilot program to test the safe integration of
electric power-assisted bikes (e-bikes) on Ontario roads. Effective October
3, 2009, electric bikes (both those resembling conventional bicycles
and those resembling motor scooters) are permanently allowed on roads
and highways where conventional bicycles are currently permitted. They
must follow the same rules of the road as set out in the Highway
Traffic Act (HTA) that currently apply to cyclists, with some
exceptions.
To operate an e-bike:
- No driver's licence is required
- No written test is required
- No vehicle registration or plate is required
- No motor vehicle liability insurance is required
- All operators/riders/passengers must be 16 years of age and older.
- No person who is the owner or is in possession or control
of an e-bike shall permit a person who is under the age of 16 years to
ride on, drive or operate the e-bike on a highway.
- All persons operating an e-bike are required to wear an approved bicycle or motorcycle helmet.
- An e-bike must not be ridden on, driven or operated unless it is good working order.
- Similar
to bicycles and mopeds, power-assisted bicycles are prohibited from use
on certain provincial controlled-access highways.
- Any
municipal by-law prohibiting bicycles from highways under their
jurisdiction also apply to e-bikes. Municipalities may also pass
by-laws specific to e-bikes that prohibit them from municipal roads,
sidewalks, bike paths, bike trails, and bike lanes under their
jurisdiction.
To operate an e-bike on Ontario roads, an e-bike must meet the following equipment requirements:
- Must have pedals (did not see language detailing anything further on this topic).
- Have a maximum unladen weight of 120 kg, or 264.5 US pounds, (includes the weight of vehicle and battery).
- Must
be equipped with at least two independent braking systems that applies
force to each wheel and is capable of bringing the e-bike, while being
operated at a speed of 30 km/h, to a full stop within 9 metres, about 29.5 feet, from the
point at which the brakes were applied.
- Must have wheels with a minimum diameter and width of 350 mm and 35 mm respectively, which is 13.8 inches from the top of the rim (not the tire) to the bottom of the rim, and about 1 1/4 inch wide. VeloChef's note --> If enforced, this diameter restriction will eliminate many of the scooters modeled after the famous Vespa style which are commonly less than 13.7 inches in diameter. Additionally, it could penalize some of the smaller and lighter folding ebikes. The width minimum of 35 mm, or about 1.25 inches will be relatively easy to live by, because this size wheel & tire combination is quite common for mountain, comfort, commuter, and touring road bike wheels.
- Must
have all electrical terminals completely insulated or covered and,
along with the battery and motor, must be securely fastened to the
bicycle to prevent them from moving while the bicycle is in motion.
- No
modifications to the motor of an e-bike to permit it to exceed the
federal requirements for motor output or speed for an e-bike (500W and
a speed greater than 32 km/h, 20 mph) are allowed VeloChef's note: the law only addresses the ability of the motor to propel the vehicle without any human assistance. The rider runs the risk of illegally operating a different class of vehicle, with much stricter requirements, and the distinct possibility of legal problems.
- Must meet the federal definition of a power-assisted bicycle (for
the full definition, please see subsection 2(1) of the Motor Vehicle
Safety Regulations under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, which includes:
- Has steering handlebars and is equipped with pedals;
- Is designed to travel on not more than three wheels;
- Has
an electric motor that has a power output rating of 500W or less.
(Note: the motor is electric, and is incapable of propelling the cycle
at speed of 32 km/h (20 mph) or greater on level ground, without pedaling) and
- Bears
a permanently affixed label by the manufacturer stating in both
official languages that the vehicle conforms to the federal definition
of a power-assisted bicycle (refer to image below).
THIS VEHICLE IS A POWER
ASSISTED BICYCLE AND
MEETS ALL THE
REQUIREMENTS UNDER
SECTION 2(1) OF THE
CANADA MOTOR VEHICLE
SAFETY REGULATIONS.
CE VÉHICULE EST UNE BICYCLETTE
ASSISTÉE ET RECONTRE LA NORME 2(1)
DU RÈGLEMENT SUR LA SÉCURITÉ
DES VÉHICULES AUTOMOBILES DU CANADA.
VeloChef notes; if you look at the purple scooter at the top of this post, which is also on the Canadian website, it has wheels that are probably around 300 mm, or 12 inches in diameter which are smaller than allowed. Minor? As usual, it really depends on how the police officer is feeling that moment. Also, just about everything in this post is from the link above, except for a few metric to US Std measurements. The e bike law does not seem to allow people to modify an existing bike with a conversion kit, unless the kit comes with a sticker, but I doubt that very much. Finally, there are a few other minor pieces of information which I ommitted, so I'd recommend visiting the website of the province/territory you will use the e bike and do a thorough read of their regulations; it could save you a lot of grief & money.