The Rome Electric Bicycle User’s Guide
TPS Training Bulletin
Page 23
E-Bikes 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 specifications 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
officials, 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 Training Bulletin” at the end of this manual and keep it with you when you
are traveling. If you are stopped by traffic authorities who are unfamiliar with e-bikes or the
regulations concerning them, show them this bulletin. They should allow you to continue.
Definition 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 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.
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 bicycles 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.
