5
ABOUT EMMO
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 with regard to the age limit to operate an e-bike, the type of
helmet required, even the number of wheels and wheel size. In Ontario, typically, e-
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 less than 9 meters; Any modifications made to the bike’s motor tocreate
speeds greater than the legal speed limit are pro-hibited.
As the rules and regulations are subject to changes in different provinces and
municipalities. Please check your municipal bylaw and see where you
stand.
