This new form of transportation is new in the past few years in Canada. Unfortunately there is a lot of confusion as to regulations which is typical of governments. At a time when gasoline and fossil fuels are being used for transportation and there is a push to go green, alternative vehicles, especially electric, seem to be a hard sell to get adopted. However, some governments are seeing the light with public pressure.
In Canada, the federal government regulates automobiles, but the provincial governments govern the licensing and the provincial roads. There are also bylaws governing vehicle use by municipalities.
However I will try to organize this blog so up to date information is available from the various governments concerning ebike use.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Ebikes in Ontario
Ebikes are now legal in Ontario, and have been since October 3,2006 (pilot project). Bill 126, "An Act to Amend the Highway Traffic Act" received Royal Assent on April 23, 2009.
http://www.ontla.on.ca/bills/bills-files/39_Parliament/Session1//b126rep.pdf
Effective October 3, 2009 the pilot project was concluded and new regulations presented modifying the Federal definition.
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/e-bike-faq.shtml
The modified definition is as follows:
Minimum age: 16
License: no
Registration: no
Insurance: no
Helmet: use of either bicycle or motorcycle required
Passengers: no [unless designed for]
Pedals: attached
Special laws:
Ontario government website Ministry of Transportation
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/#power
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/e-bike-faq.shtml
[Updated Oct 5/09]
http://www.ontla.on.ca/bills/bills-files/39_Parliament/Session1//b126rep.pdf
Effective October 3, 2009 the pilot project was concluded and new regulations presented modifying the Federal definition.
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/e-bike-faq.shtml
The modified definition is as follows:
For use in the Province of Ontario, a power-assisted bicycle, or e-bike, is a bicycle that:
* Has a maximum weight of 120 kg (includes the weight of bike and battery);
* Has wheels with a diameter of at least 350 mm and width of at least 35 mm; and
* Meets the federal definition of a power-assisted bicycle:
o has steering handlebars and is equipped with pedals,
o is designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground,
o is capable of being propelled by muscular power,
o has one or more electric motors that have, singly or in combination, the following characteristics:
+ it has a total continuous power output rating, measured at the shaft of each motor, of 500 W or less,
+ if it is engaged by the use of muscular power, power assistance immediately ceases when the muscular power ceases,
+ if it is engaged by the use of an accelerator controller, power assistance immediately ceases when the brakes are applied, and
+ it is incapable of providing further assistance when the bicycle attains a speed of 32 km/h on level ground,
o bears a label that is permanently affixed by the manufacturer and appears in a conspicuous location stating, in both official languages, that the vehicle is a power-assisted bicycle as defined federally, and
o has one of the following safety features,
+ an enabling mechanism to turn the electric motor on and off that is separate from the accelerator controller and fitted in such a manner that it is operable by the driver, or
+ a mechanism that prevents the motor from being engaged before the bicycle attains 3 km/hr.
Minimum age: 16
License: no
Registration: no
Insurance: no
Helmet: use of either bicycle or motorcycle required
Passengers: no [unless designed for]
Pedals: attached
Special laws:
E-bikes are allowed to travel anywhere bicycles are permitted to travel. 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.
E-bikes, like bicycles, are not allowed on controlled-access highways such as 400 series highways, the Queen Elizabeth Way, the Queensway in Ottawa or the Kitchener-Waterloo Expressway, or on municipal roads, including sidewalks where bicycles are banned under municipal by-laws.
Ontario government website Ministry of Transportation
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/#power
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/e-bike-faq.shtml
[Updated Oct 5/09]
Ebikes in Saskatchewan
Ebikes are legal in Saskatchewan.
http://www.sgi.sk.ca/sgi_pub/instructional/motorcycledrivers/2009/16.pdf
Saskatchewan has divided the ebikes into two categories. One requires no license yet the other does.
Minimum age: none and 16[?]
License: no and yes
Registration: no [maybe]
Insurance: no
Helmet: yes!
Passengers: ?
Pedals: yes!
Special laws: the usual rules of the road and municipal restrictions.
[updated Oct 5/09]
http://www.sgi.sk.ca/sgi_pub/instructional/motorcycledrivers/2009/16.pdf
Saskatchewan has divided the ebikes into two categories. One requires no license yet the other does.
Minimum age: none and 16[?]
License: no and yes
Registration: no [maybe]
Insurance: no
Helmet: yes!
Passengers: ?
Pedals: yes!
Special laws: the usual rules of the road and municipal restrictions.
[updated Oct 5/09]
Ebikes in British Columbia
Ebikes are legal in British Columbia, and have been since June 21, 2002.
link to www.bclaws.ca
Ebikes are called motor assisted cycles (MAC) in British Columbia.
What is a motor-assisted cycle (MAC)?
"A MAC is a two- or three-wheeled cycle with a seat, pedals and an electric motor that is 500 watts or less. MACs cannot be gas-powered."
Minimum age: 16
License: no
Registration: no
Insurance: no
Helmet: yes
Passengers: unknown
Special laws: rules of the road, not on sidewalk (additional see gov't website).
Pedals must be attached as of June1/09
http://partners.icbc.com/insurance/pdf/IdentifyingMotorAssistedCycles.pdf
British Columbia website ICBC*
http://www.icbc.com/registration/reg_rules_low_pwr_mtr_asstd_cycles.asp
*The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia is a provincial Crown corporation established in 1973 to provide universal auto insurance to B.C. motorists. They are also responsible for driver licensing, and vehicle licensing and registration.
[updated sept 10/09]
link to www.bclaws.ca
Ebikes are called motor assisted cycles (MAC) in British Columbia.
What is a motor-assisted cycle (MAC)?
"A MAC is a two- or three-wheeled cycle with a seat, pedals and an electric motor that is 500 watts or less. MACs cannot be gas-powered."
Minimum age: 16
License: no
Registration: no
Insurance: no
Helmet: yes
Passengers: unknown
Special laws: rules of the road, not on sidewalk (additional see gov't website).
Pedals must be attached as of June1/09
http://partners.icbc.com/insurance/pdf/IdentifyingMotorAssistedCycles.pdf
British Columbia website ICBC*
http://www.icbc.com/registration/reg_rules_low_pwr_mtr_asstd_cycles.asp
*The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia is a provincial Crown corporation established in 1973 to provide universal auto insurance to B.C. motorists. They are also responsible for driver licensing, and vehicle licensing and registration.
[updated sept 10/09]
Ebikes in Alberta
Ebikes are legal in Alberta. The term used here is power bicycle.
In Alberta a "power bicycle" means a vehicle that
" (i) may be propelled
(A) by human muscular power,
(B) by mechanical power, or
(C) partly by human muscular power and partly by mechanical power,
(ii) is fitted with pedals that are continually operable to propel it,
(iii) has a motor that produces not more than 750 watts and is driven by electricity or has an engine with a displacement of not more than 50 cubic centimetres,
(iv) does not have a hand-operated or foot-operated clutch or gearbox driven by the motor that transfers power to the driven wheel,
(v) does not have sufficient power to enable it to attain a speed greater than 35 kilometres per hour on level ground within a distance of two kilometres from a standing start, and
(vi) weighs not more than 35 kilograms."
http://transportation.alberta.ca/1030.htm
Regulations governing ebikes in Alberta.
http://transportation.alberta.ca/1035.htm
Minimum age: 12 (see additional requirements)
License: no
Registration: no
Insurance: no
Helmet: motorcycle helmet
Passengers: An operator may not carry passengers if under 16 years of age.
Special laws: The definition of a motor vehicle excludes power bicycles. (see additional requirements)
In Alberta a "power bicycle" means a vehicle that
" (i) may be propelled
(A) by human muscular power,
(B) by mechanical power, or
(C) partly by human muscular power and partly by mechanical power,
(ii) is fitted with pedals that are continually operable to propel it,
(iii) has a motor that produces not more than 750 watts and is driven by electricity or has an engine with a displacement of not more than 50 cubic centimetres,
(iv) does not have a hand-operated or foot-operated clutch or gearbox driven by the motor that transfers power to the driven wheel,
(v) does not have sufficient power to enable it to attain a speed greater than 35 kilometres per hour on level ground within a distance of two kilometres from a standing start, and
(vi) weighs not more than 35 kilograms."
http://transportation.alberta.ca/1030.htm
Regulations governing ebikes in Alberta.
http://transportation.alberta.ca/1035.htm
Minimum age: 12 (see additional requirements)
License: no
Registration: no
Insurance: no
Helmet: motorcycle helmet
Passengers: An operator may not carry passengers if under 16 years of age.
Special laws: The definition of a motor vehicle excludes power bicycles. (see additional requirements)
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