Brampton City Council is calling on the province to require licenses to drive certain types of electric bicycles.<\/p>\n
Ontario is reviewing its e-bike classifications following updates to the Highway Traffic Act and Safer Roads and Communities Act, including establishing distinct classes of e-bikes.<\/p>\n
The province is asking municipalities for their input on the class definitions, and Brampton has put forward several recommendations, including speed-limiting e-bikes to no more than 32 kilometres per hour.<\/p>\n
The city wants to see the province require faster, heavier moped, scooter, or motorcycle-style vehicles to be licensed and insured, and set limits for e-bike operators to be at least 16 years of age.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s other recommendations include e-bikes have a total continuous power output of 500 watts or less, are equipped with hand cranks or foot pedals, have an adjustable saddle, and require all operators to wear a helmet.<\/p>\n
City staff want the province to reduce the maximum weight limit of 120 kilograms for Class 2 power-assisted bicycles, \u201cand to require brakes adequate for an operator to safely stop the vehicle within 9 metres even when loaded\u201d in wet and hilly conditions.<\/p>\n
The recommendations were put forward by Coun. Rowena Santos and unanimously approved by council on June 3, just days before the province\u2019s consultation period ended.<\/p>\n
The province says redefining e-bikes in Ontario \u201coffers potential environmental benefits by encouraging a shift from higher-emission travel modes to lower emission alternatives, supporting congestion reduction, improving first and last-mile connections to transit, and enabling the ministry to better respond to technological changes that may promote cleaner transportation options.\u201d<\/p>\n
Benefits of an updated regulatory framework for e-bikes include improving safety, providing greater clarity for riders, industry, municipalities, and enforcement, and modernizing the framework \u201cto keep pace with a rapidly evolving e-bike market.\u201d<\/p>\n