Ontario legislation could unintentionally ban many e-bikes

Proposed Ontario legislation designed to address the growth of e-bikes and corresponding safety issues could inadvertently ban many types of pedal-assisted bicycles, according to Ben Cowie of London Bicycle Café.

“Broadly, there are a lot of good things in the bill that will make public roads safer. The challenge comes to the definition of power-assisted e-bikes and mopeds that by virtue of what we believe to be technical mistakes, bans most electric-assist bikes on the market,” he says. “Many recumbent, tricycle and other adaptive style bikes would also be excluded based on the definitions proposed.”

The classifications as proposed in Bill 282, the Moving Ontarians More Safely Act, would result in excluding many different styles of e-bikes.

“Virtually all personal e-bikes from road/gravel bikes, mountain bikes, city/commuter bikes, and touring bikes will be banned by the legislation if it’s passed as written,” Cowie says. “Primarily the specs for wheels and weight are responsible for this. Many family cargo bikes will be banned, too.”

The bill would actually ban certain e-bikes that would be completely legal and fine without the electric assist.

The move was designed to deal with moped and motorcycle-style e-bikes that go at higher speeds and aren’t designed for pedaling.

“It’s not aiming to get rid of those moped and motorcycle-style e-bikes, rather give them a different name so they can be properly regulated. By giving each of these a specific name (as California has done) allows municipalities to regulate where and how these bikes can be used,” he says. “Fundamentally, however, regulating vehicles is a federal responsibility in Canada, and Transport Canada has indicated it has no interest in doing so, so this work has fallen to provinces who don’t have a lot of expertise in this type of work.”

The e-bike market has grown by leaps and bounds around the world, and certainly, Ontario is no different. So, this type of well-intentioned but problematic legislation is a big deal and could cause some serious and completely unnecessary problems.

To that end, Cowie has helped establish a cargo and e-bike working group consisting of retails, non-profits, and businesses who have come together to work with the government on the definitions.

“At this point, we’ve been in contact with all the relevant government and opposition leaders, and are hopeful that an amendment to the Bill can be passed to legalize what’s already happening on our streets today,” Cowie says. “ A broad summary of where we’re at can be found here.”

Those in Ontario wishing to help can contact their local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) today! The clause-by-clause reading of the bill is set for May 14.