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Power-Assisted/Electric Bicycles
Can be operated on roads in Ontario
Effective October 3, 2006, the Province of Ontario began a three-year pilot project to evaluate the use of power-assisted bicycles (also known as electric bikes or e-bikes) on roads and highways where conventional bicycles are currently allowed. The pilot is opened to all Ontarians 16 years of age and older and will run for three years. For the duration of the pilot, electric bicycles will be treated as bicycles and must follow the same rules of the road as set out in the Highway Traffic Act that currently apply to cyclists.
There are two exceptions:
· Operators must be 16 years of age or older, and
· All operators must wear an approved bicycle helmet at all times.
Sample label
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 SÉCURITÉDES VÉHICULES AUTOMOBILES DU CANADA.
During the pilot:
· No driver's license is required,
· No written test is required,
· No vehicle registration or plate required,
· No requirement for motor vehicle liability insurance.
An e-bike is a power assisted vehicle that:
(a) has steering handlebars and is equipped with pedals,
(b) is designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground,
(c) is capable of being propelled by muscular power,
(d) has an electric motor only, which has the following characteristics, namely:
(i) it has a continuous power output rating, measured at the shaft of the motor, of 500W or less,
(ii) if it is engaged by the use of muscular power, power assistance immediately ceases when the muscular power ceases,
(iii) if it is engaged by the use of an accelerator controller, power assistance immediately ceases when the brakes are applied, and
(iv) it is incapable of providing further assistance when the bicycle attains a speed of 32 km/h on level ground,
The power-assisted bicycle pilot is authorized by Ontario Regulation 473/06. In this regulation, the legal definition of an e-bike refers to the federal definition of a power-assisted bicycle. For the full definition, please see subsection 2(1) of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Electric bicycles and scooters are legal on the roads of many provinces in Canada, provided they comply with certain federal and provincial regulations. Among these provinces are British Columbia and Quebec, and since October, 2006, Ontario. Each province or territory in Canada regulates the use of electric vehicles. For some provinces, the regulating body is the Provincial Motor Vehicle Branch or the major Insurance Company.
You can tell an e-bike is an e-bike by its label.
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