Frequently Asked
Questions
Power-Assisted Bicycle ("e-bike") Pilot Test
- What is a power-assisted bicycle?
- Is a power-assisted bicycle the same as an e-bike?
- Why are we piloting this vehicle; why not pocket bikes?
- Why is the province piloting e-bikes and not simply legislating e-bikes for public roadways?
- During the pilot, where can a power-assisted bicycle travel?
- Who can participate in the pilot?
- When does the pilot start?
- What happens after the end of the pilot?
- Why is the pilot only 3 years? Why should people spend $1,000 buying an e-bike that they may not be able to use when the pilot ends in 3 years?
- What do I need to drive a power-assisted bicycle during the pilot?
- How did the Ministry of Transportation come up with the definition of "a power-assisted bicycle"?
- What is the difference between an e-bike and a moped?
- Why do you need a licence to operate a moped and not an e-bike when they both have pedals?
- Why is there an age restriction?
- What are the rules for wearing a helmet?
- What about safety requirements?
- If a police officer stopped someone who is drunk while driving an e-bike, how would they be charged? Would this be a Criminal Code offence? HTA offence?
- If I'm driving my e-bike, will fines be the same as for riding a bicycle?
- What does an e-bike label say?
- How much do power-assisted bicycles cost?
- How do I recharge the battery?
- How far can I travel on a single charge of the battery?
- How long would the battery last before I have to buy a new one?
- If my driver's licence has been suspended, can I legally operate an e-bike?
- What are the fines associated with offences related to e-bikes?
- Is the ministry going to evaluate the safety of e-bikes?
- Does the ministry plan to do any public education about the new e-bike pilot project?
1. What is a power-assisted bicycle?
A power-assisted bicycle is also known as an "electric
bicycle" or "e-bike."- An e-bike is a bicycle with an added battery powered electric motor that does not exceed 500 watts and can assist the cyclist up to a speed of 32 km/h.
- It can also be driven like a bicycle without any power assist.
- The addition of the power assist enables the rider to pedal with
less effort, to achieve a greater distance, to climb hills and ride against the
wind more easily. In its size, weight, speed and the driving skills required,
the e-bike is similar to the conventional bicycle.
2. Is a power-assisted bicycle the same as an e-bike?
Yes. An e-bike is considered a power-assisted bicycle as long as it meets all the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
3. Why are we piloting this vehicle; why not pocket bikes?
- Ontario is interested in testing the use of alternative modes of transportation that are safe, that further personal mobility, and that are environmentally friendly.
- E-bikes are powered by an electric motor and muscular power, and have zero emissions. Pocket bikes are small, powerful motorcycles that are gas-powered with the same rate of emissions as larger motorcycles.
- E-bikes have been legalized for public roads in eight other Canadian jurisdictions and have a record of safety. Pocket bikes, because of their low profile (about two feet in height), their high rate of speed (can reach 70 km/hr), and lower equipment standards are unsafe vehicles to be driven on public roads.
4. Why is the province piloting e-bikes and not simply legislating e-bikes for public roadways?
The piloting of e-bikes on Ontario roads is a first step to fully legalizing the use of these vehicles on public roadways. A pilot allows the ministry to test the use of these vehicles under certain licensing and operational conditions before making final decisions on how these vehicles should be legislated for on-road use.
5. During the pilot, where can a power-assisted bicycle travel?
- Power-assisted bicycles will be able to travel anywhere a bicycle travels.
- They will be permitted on trails and paths where municipal by-laws permit bicycles
- Power-assisted bicycles, like bicycles are not allowed on controlled-access highways such as the 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.
6. Who can participate in the pilot?
The pilot is open to anyone who is 16 years of age or older and wears an approved bicycle helmet at all times while operating an e-bike.
7. When does the pilot start?
The three-year pilot took effect October 3, 2006 and ends October 3, 2009.
8. What happens after the end of the pilot?
- Prior to the end of the pilot, the ministry will be assessing the data and information gathered from the pilot and will make a final decision on how to legislate the e-bike.
- If necessary, the pilot can be extended to allow more time for pilot evaluation or to put forward legislative proposals.
9. Why is the pilot only 3 years? Why should people spend $1,000 buying an e-bike that they may not be able to use when the pilot ends in 3 years?
- Pilots are usually of a short duration. Part of the goal of this pilot is to test whether e-bikes should be treated like bicycles on public roads in the long-term.
- Our plan is to use this trial experience to determine whether testing and licensing of e-bike operators is necessary to maintain road safety after the pilot. The ministry recognizes that power-assisted bicycles are roadworthy vehicles and we want to join other provinces in allowing these vehicles on the road.
10. What do I need to drive a power-assisted bicycle during the pilot?
- During the pilot, power-assisted bicycles will be treated as
bicycles which means:
- No driver's licence required
- No written test required
- No vehicle registration or plate required
- No requirement for motor vehicle liability insurance
- The pilot is open to all operators 16 years of age and older.
- All persons operating an e-bike during the pilot will be required to wear an approved bicycle helmet.
- Only electric bicycles that conform to the federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act regulations and labelled as a "power-assisted bicycle" are eligible for the pilot.
11. How did the Ministry of Transportation come up with the definition of "a power-assisted bicycle"?
Ontario adopted the definition contained in s. 2(1) of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada) and that is:
"power-assisted bicycle", means a vehicle that:
- has steering handlebars and is equipped with pedals,
- is designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground,
- is capable of being propelled by muscular power,
- 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,
- 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 in this subsection, and
- 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
12. What is the difference between an e-bike and a moped?
- If the vehicle is powered by gas, has a 50 cc engine and can go faster than 32 km/hr then it is a moped.
- Mopeds must be insured, registered and have valid licence plates, whereas electric bicycles do not.
- Mopeds are considered "limited-speed motorcycles" by Transport Canada and must bear a label indicating "LSM/MVL".
Power-assisted bicycle (e-bike)
|
Motor-Assisted Bicycle (Moped)
|
13. Why do you need a licence to operate a moped and not an e-bike when they both have pedals?
- Mopeds are heavier and faster than e-bikes. The maximum speed of a moped is 50 km/hr and an e-bike is 32 km/hr. Mopeds can weigh as much as 55 kg or 121 lbs, while most e-bikes weigh half that at about 28 kg or 61 pounds. Mopeds do have pedals, but most are driven solely by motor, whereas most e-bikes are designed to be pedalled with a power-assist.
- In terms of their power and size, mopeds drive more like motorcycles and e-bikes more like bicycles. Indeed, Transport Canada considers mopeds to be limited-speed motorcycles and requires mopeds to meet motorcycle equipment and safety standards. Driving a motorcycle in Ontario requires the operator to have a motorcycle licence.
14. Why is there an age restriction?
- Even though power-assisted bicycles will be treated as a bicycle, they are generally heavier, can travel at a maximum speed of 32km/hr and require additional physical strength to safely manage.
- Currently, 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.
15. What are the rules for wearing a helmet?
Anyone operating an e-bike will be required to wear an approved bicycle helmet. There will be no age exemptions.
16. What about safety requirements?
Power-assisted bicycles will require the same safety equipment as bicycles under the Highway Traffic Act:
- Proper lights
- Proper brakes
- Proper bell
17. If a police officer stopped someone who is drunk while driving an e-bike, how would they be charged? Would this be a Criminal Code offence? HTA offence?
Drinking and driving a motor vehicle is a Criminal Code offence and charges are laid under the Criminal Code of Canada. Under the Criminal Code, the definition of a "motor vehicle" would include an e-bike and anyone operating an e-bike intoxicated could be charged for impaired driving. If convicted, the offender would be subject to the Criminal Code penalties, including a fine or jail time, and a driving prohibition. However, under this pilot regulation, an e-bike would not be a motor vehicle under the Highway Traffic Act, so penalties for impaired driving under the Act would not apply.
18. If I'm driving my e-bike, will fines be the same as for riding a bicycle?
Yes. All the set fines established for violating rules of the road and equipment standards that apply to bicyclists would apply to drivers of e-bikes. However, offences directly related to the pilot (i.e.; riding an e-bike under the age of 16 or anyone riding an e-bike without a helmet) would be subject to the higher fines set for pilot projects, ranging from $250 to $2,500.
19. What does an e-bike label say?
| 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. |
Manufacturers of e-bikes must permanently affix a label, in a conspicuous location, stating in both official languages that the vehicle is a power-assisted bicycle as defined in the regulations under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
20. How much do power-assisted bicycles cost?
E-bikes usually retail for between $1,000 and $2,200 in Ontario.
21. How do I recharge the battery?
- The bicycles generally use a 4-9 kg battery and are recharged by plugging into the wall.
- It takes several hours to recharge the device using a normal outlet and a full re-charge consumes about 3 cents of electricity.
22. How far can I travel on a single charge of the battery?
On power-assist mode, one charge can provide traveling distance of 20-50 km, depending on the terrain and the model.
23. How long would the battery last before I have to buy a new one?
The life cycle of the battery is up to 500 charges.
24. If my driver's licence has been suspended, can I legally operate an e-bike?
You do not need a driver's licence to drive an electric bicycle.
25. What are the fines associated with offences related to e-bikes?
For traffic and equipment offences, the fines are the same as for riding bicycles. For example:
| Offence | HTA Section - Bicycle* | Set Fine | Court Fee | Victim Fine | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Improper lighting | 62(17)* | $ 20.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 10.00 | $ 35.00 |
| Improper brakes | 64(3)* | $ 85.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 20.00 | $ 110.00 |
| No bell or defective bell | 75(5) | $ 85.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 20.00 | $ 110.00 |
| Fail to wear proper helmet | 104(2.1)* | $ 60.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 20.00 | $ 85.00 |
| Disobey stop sign, fail to stop | 136(1)(a) | $ 85.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 20.00 | $ 110.00 |
| Red light - fail to stop | 144(18) | $ 150.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 25.00 | $ 180.00 |
| Careless driving | 130 | $ 260.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 60.00 | $ 325.00 |
| Fail to yield to pedestrian | 140(1)(a) | $ 85.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 20.00 | $ 110.00 |
| Drive wrong way - one way traffic | 153 | $ 85.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 20.00 | $ 110.00 |
| Bicycle - fail to turn out to right when overtaken | 148(6)* | $ 85.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 20.00 | $ 110.00 |
| Cyclist - ride in or along crosswalk | 144(29)* | $ 85.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 20.00 | $ 110.00 |
| Cyclist - fail to stop or to identify self | 218(2)* | $ 85.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 20.00 | $ 110.00 |
| Ride 2 on a bicycle | 178(2)* | $ 85.00 | $ 5.00 | $ 20.00 | $ 110.00 |
*HTA offences specific to the operation of bicycles and to bicyclists
26. Is the ministry going to evaluate the safety of e-bikes?
Yes. Throughout the pilot, data will be gathered for evaluation to determine the safety impacts of allowing e-bikes to be driven as bicycles on public roads and how they integrate with other road users, data will be assessed before final decisions are made on how to legislate these vehicles.
27. Does the ministry plan to do any public education about the new e-bike pilot project?
The Ministry is currently updating and revising its Cycling Skills manual. A new section about e-bikes has been added to the manual, which should be available, around the time e-bikes are allowed on Ontario roads. The Ministry's website will also provide information to the public about the new e-bike pilot project.
