5
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Of riding an e-bike
According to Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR
)
. A qualified e-
bike (defined as Power Assist Bicycle) must meet the following requirements:
• The e-bike must have operable pedals
• Upper wattage limit for the motor is 500W.
Other requirements include a permanently affixed compliance label from the
manufacturer stating that the vehicle is a power-assisted bicycle under statutory
requirements in force at the time of manufacture. Currently, there is no license,
no insurance, and no vehicle registration required to operate a qualified e-bike
according to federal legislation. E-Bike riders share the same rights and
responsibilities as other road users.
However, provinces and local municipalities have the power to restrict the use of e-
bikes. Most provinces require the rider to wear a helmet. Some provinces have
special requirements concerning the age limit to operate an e-bike, the type of
helmet required, and even the number of wheels and wheel size. In Ontario,
typically, e- be-bikes are generally treated the same as regular bicycles. According
to the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
(MTO), the age limit to operate an e-
bike is 16 years old and above; the maximum weight of the bike is 120 kilograms
(265 pounds); the bike must have a brake distance of fewer than 9 meters; Any
modifications made to the bike’s motor to create speeds greater than the legal
speed limit are prohibited.
As the rules and regulations are subject to changes in different provinces
and municipalities. Please check your municipal bylaw and see where you
stand.
