Daymak Voyager - Manual (Page 23)

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Page 24
The Voyager Electric Bicycle User’s Guide
TPS Training Bulletin
E-Bikes and Canadian Law
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova
Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon
Currently, eight Canadian jurisdictions (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba,
Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon Territory) have legalized power-
assisted bicycles for public road use and are treating these vehicles as conventional bicycles and
not as motor vehicles. As such, they do not require insurance, registration or licences. E-bike
technical specifications must fall within certain parameters, however,
The rules are similar in every province, with minor variations, and are not considered
controversial. Consult your local ministry or department of transportation for guidelines.
New Ontario Regulations
Ontario is currently running a pilot program to determine whether or not e-bikes should be
allowed on Ontario roads and under what conditions. The pilot program ends in 2009, at which
point decisions will be made as to the future of e-bikes on Ontario roads. Because the program in
Ontario is new, and the rules are often unfamiliar even to law enforcement officials, we have
included a synopsis of the regulations here.
These rules are very similar to the rules currently in place in other Canadian provinces.
Print the “TPS Training Bulletin” at the end of this manual and keep it with you when you are
traveling. If you are stopped by traffic authorities who are unfamiliar with e-bikes or the
regulations concerning them, show them this bulletin. They should allow you to continue.
Definition of an E-Bike
An e-bike is a bicycle with an added battery powered electric motor that does not exceed 500
watts and can assist the cyclist up to a speed of 32 km/h. It can also be driven like a bicycle
without any power assist. The addition of the power assist enables the rider to pedal with less
effort, to achieve a greater distance, to climb hills and ride against the wind more easily. In its
size, weight, speed and the driving skills required, the e-bike is similar to the conventional bicycle.
A power-assisted bicycle is the same as an e-bike. An e-bike is considered a power- assisted
bicycle as long as it meets all the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Traveling by E-Bike
Power-assisted bicycles will be able to travel anywhere a bicycle travels. They will be permitted
on trails and paths where municipal by-laws permit bicycles. Power-assisted bicycles, like
bicycles, are not allowed on controlled-access highways such as the 400 series highways, the
Queen Elizabeth Way, the Queensway in Ottawa or the Kitchener- Waterloo Expressway, or on
municipal roads, including sidewalks where bicycles are banned under municipal by-laws.
Who Can Ride an E-Bike
Anyone who is 16 years of age or older and wears an approved bicycle helmet at all times while
operating an e-bike can ride one.