After a pilot project, e-bikes have been declared legal in Ontario, with all the same rules as regular bikes, except that riders must be at least 16 and wear a helmet:
Toronto Sun: No more getting the gears for e-bikesThe electric bike's long journey to legality is over.
"E-bikes provide an important transportation option to Ontarians. They are affordable, green and easy to use," Transportation Minister Jim Bradley said in a release. "The McGuinty government is pleased to welcome the e-bike to Ontario's transportation mix."
It's been three years since e-bikes were first allowed on Ontario roads as part of a pilot project. During that time, the government says its had mostly positive feedback about the machines, which can be both pedalled and powered by their small electric motor.
Bradley has tweaked the rules on the bikes slightly, adding a ban on modifications that would allow them to travel faster than 32 km/h and requiring a maximum nine-metre braking distance at top speed.
All previous restrictions on e-bikes will continue to apply, including a maximum weight of 120 kg. Drivers must be at least 16 and wear a helmet. Otherwise, an e-bike must follow the same rules as a regular bicycle. They're also barred from 400-series highways.
