Ontario, Canada — As e-bikes grow in popularity, more and more of them can be seen on the roads. Because they can go up to 15 miles an hour, they aren’t allowed on sidewalks. And just as pedestrians hate regular bicycles on sidewalks, so motorists hate bikes and e-bikes on the road. (Well, not all. But a significant number.)

Certain ebikes are scooters – with a wider profile than ebikes or bicycles, and need to be given more room from cars when they pass.

Chatham-Kent Police Service Constable Michael Pearce, public information officer, said the Ontario Ministry of Transportation is nearing the end of a three-year pilot project for the E-bikes.

Pearce pointed out as long as the pedals are attached — which doesn’t mean it has to be pedalled — it remains classified as a bicycle. This means the operator doesn’t need insurance, drivers license or licence plate, he added.

“If you take those pedals off . . . it then becomes a motorcycle and you need a M-class license, you need to have insurance, you need to have it plated, etc,” Pearce said.

Other rules for the E-bikes is the rider has to be 16 or older, but only needs to wear an approved bicycle helmet. The scooter are supposed to travel at a maximum of 32 km/hr.

Pearce said local police haven’t had any issues the E-bikes, but have received several inquires, including a lady who wanted to know if she could ride the scooter to another community.

The scooters are not allowed on any 400-series highway, but can travel on just about any other roadway.

“People need to use common sense,” he said. “Just because you’re on a vehicle that propels you, it’s still considered a bike and drivers need to treat them as bicycle riders, and the people operating them need to behave as if they’re a bicycle rider.”

He said scooters are not afforded the same right as a motor vehicle, so operators need to travel on the side of the roadway.

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Guelph, Canada — Electric-powered bicycles are considered bicycles in most places around the world…as long as they meet certain specifications. If they can go faster than a certain speed, they are no longer considered e-bikes but rather scooters, for example. So how do you find  what you need to know regarding e-bikes. Well, ask the shop where you’re buying it, of course, but also check your local government website to see what the rules are, just to doublecheck. In Guelph, for example, even though you don’t need a driver’s licence to ride a battery-operated bike, if you’ve lost your licence due to a Criminal Code infraction such as impaired driving, you are not allowed to ride them.

“If you operate an e-bike after losing your license, you can be charged with driving while disqualified,” Guelph Police Sgt. Doug Pflug pointed out. “It’s a bit confusing because the law says you don’t need a license to operate one.”

In Gueph, ebikes are those that operate on a battery not exceeding 500 watts or by pedal power and can’t go faster than 32 kilometers per hour. You can be as young as 16 to operate them and need to wear only a bicycle helmet. Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Emna Dhahak said the Criminal Code considers e-bikes a motorized vehicle, while the Highway Traffic Act considers them a bicycle. Therefore, if you lose your license due to Highway Traffic Act violations, you are still allowed to operate an e-bike. But a Criminal Code infraction means you can’t operate one.

WHAT ARE E-BIKES? (In Guelph)

- powered by electric motor not exceeding 500 watts
- maximum speed of 32 kilometres per-hour
- does not require insurance or driver’s licence
- operators must be at least 16-years-old
- must wear a bicycle helmet
- must have pedals that are operable

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E+ Mountain Bike and E+ Cruiser offer bicycles with battery-operated motors that allow people to ride the bike like a scooter, as well as a regular bicycle.

Dan Robinson, owner of Golden Gate Veloteq and Velolectric EBikes in San Carlos, says that people are really embracing the bikes.

The E+ bike mimic previous models of electronic bikes, have a higher voltage; thus they have a higher maximum speed. According to Robinson, riders can get 20 to 40 miles from one battery.

The E+ bikes differentiate themselves from the other electronic bikes, such as the ECOBike, because they are more powerful. The E+ bikes’ highest available voltage is 1,000 watts with a top speed of 30 mph, while ECOBike’s highest available voltage is 360 watts with a maximum speed of 20 mph.

“The appeal of these bikes is that they are exempt from having to be registered by the DMV,” said Robinson.

NOTE: Any bike that exceeds 30 mph requires the owner to have a driver’s license, and to register the vehicle with the DMV for a one-time fee of $18. Other than that, to drive the slower models, California law requires the drivers to be at least 16 years old and to wear a bicycle helmet.

Source: Nicholas Gosling/Daily Journal

The E+ bikes have other features that set them apart. One of the features is a computer that tells the owner the battery life, mileage and speed. The computer also has set programs that allow the driver to pick the resistance and a program that, while the driver is pedaling, will charge the battery.

All of the electric bikes have the option of not using the motor and pedaling, and the option of just using the motor to ride like a scooter.

Because E+ bikes are more sophisticated, they cost more than other electronic bicycles. Prices for the E+ models range from $3,500 to $5,000 depending on the model, voltage, warranty and other customizations.

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