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Ebikes and Canadian Law
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia,
Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon
Currently, eight Canadian jurisdictions (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova
Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon Territory) have legalized power-assisted bicycles for public
road use and are treating these vehicles as conventional bicycles and not as motor vehicles. As such, they
do not require insurance, registration or licences. E-bike technical specifi cations must fall within certain
parameters, however,
The rules are similar in every province, with minor variations, and are not considered controversial. Consult
your local ministry or department of transportation for guidelines.
New Ontario Regulations
Ontario is currently running a pilot program to determine whether or not e-bikes should be allowed on
Ontario roads and under what conditions. The pilot program ends in 2009, at which point decisions will be
made as to the future of e-bikes on Ontario roads. Because the program in Ontario is new, and the rules are
often unfamiliar even to law enforcement offi cials, we have included a synopsis of the regulations here.
These rules are very similar to the rules currently in place in other Canadian provinces. Print the “TPS Train-
ing Bulletin” at the end of this manual and keep it with you when you
are traveling. If you are stopped by traffi c authorities who are unfamiliar with e-bikes or the regulations
concerning them, show them this bulletin. They should allow you to continue.
Defi nition of an 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 eff ort, 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. A power-assisted bicycle is the same as an e-bike. An
e-bike is considered a power- assisted bicycle as long as it meets all the requirements of the Motor Vehicle
Safety Act.
Traveling by E-bike
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 bicy-
cles are banned under municipal by-laws.
Who Can Ride an E-bike
Anyone who is 16 years of age or older and wears an approved bicycle helmet at all times while operating
an e-bike can ride one.
