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:

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]