Helmets and E-Bikes...Canoe, Canada

My wife loves her e-bike
But if you buy one of these money-savers, get a helmet -and wear it
Posted 5 hours ago


I was reading a story in the paper in May about a person who bought an electric scooter to save money on gas. The idea intrigued me so much that I did some research on the topic. I discovered that the price of these electric scooters could be quite high - somewhere in the $1,200 to $2,500 range.

I told my wife that I was considering purchasing a scooter for her to use on her four-kilometre daily commute. Her concerns were twofold: It seemed like a lot of money to spend for such a short trip, and she didn't want the vehicle to be left outside in the yard where it could be tampered with.

When I googled the subject, I found an inexpensive e-bike on sale at a local chain store. It was essentially a folding bicycle with an electric motor on the rear wheel that would assist the person pedaling. Because it was so small, my wife would be able to bring the bicycle indoors, where it would be safer and protected from the elements. It was much less expensive than the electric scooter -it retailed for only $599. And because it was a bicycle, it qualified for the PST tax exemption.

So I bought an e-bike for my wife. And she loves it. She had not been on a bike for years because she did not want to arrive at work tired and sweaty. Now she gets to work without effort.

The e-bike is a real attention-getter. Every day people ask her about it, how it works and whether she enjoys it. Although the battery gives the motor only about a 20-kilometre range, it's just fine for the short trips she makes. She coasts downhill, pedals the bike on flat areas and gentle slopes, and uses the electric motor to go up steep hills, which she can manage at 22 kilometres an hour or more without breaking a sweat. That's fast enough to keep up with me on a regular bike.

Now the whole family can go for a ride. If you are just making short trips and would like to save a lot of money on gas, consider purchasing an e-bike.

But it's important to know Ontario legislation regarding the e-bike before a purchase is made. The e-bike can be operated on Ontario roads under a special three-year pilot test program. After the three-year period, the government will determine if the e-bike will still be allowed on the province's roads. Fines for improper operation of an e-bike are the same as for bicycles, with some additional requirements due to the fact that it is an assisted vehicle.

The Ministry of Transportation defines the e-bike as a bicycle with an added battery-powered electric motor that does not exceed 500 watts and that 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 go a greater distance and 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. It must bear a Transport Canada label indicating it is a "power-assisted bicycle."

E-bikes require the same safety equipment as bicycles under the Highway Traffic Act. That is, proper lights, proper brakes and a proper bell. E-bikes cannot be operated by anyone under the age of 16. And everyone operating an e-bike is required to wear an approved bicycle helmet. There are no age exemptions.

This information comes directly from the Ministry of Transportation website and is a summary of information from Ontario Regulation 473/06, made under the Highway Traffic Act.

Except for my wife, virtually everybody I have seen on an e-bike (and I am seeing more people on e-bikes every day) has been riding without a helmet. When I told e-bike riders that they could be fined up to $2,500 for not wearing a helmet, these are some of the answers I got:


I don't believe it."

* "Mine is not an e-bike -it's made by a different manufacturer."

* "I am over 18 so I do not need one."

* "They did not tell me I needed a helmet when I bought it."

* "I haven't been stopped by police yet. In fact, a policeman saw me on this bike without a helmet and he drove away."

* "I asked a cop and he said I didn't need one."

* "I don't want to ruin my hair."

* "I don't have the money to buy a helmet."

I checked with retailers and there seems to be confusion about the issue. Some believe that helmets are required if the operator is under 18. Some believe helmets are required for e-bikes and bicycles regardless of the operator's age. Some retailers are aware that the law requires helmets for riders of all ages on e-bikes and advise the customers as such, and some retailers will not allow the customer to take an e-bike out of the store unless the customer already owns an approved helmet, or purchases one.

The position of the local police seems to be a bit vague. I contacted Kingston Police's general inquiry number, so I do not have an official response. The response I got was that if it is an Ontario law, then people should obey it. And enforcement depends on the individual police officer. Some may issue a fine while others may look away.

Perhaps this is such a new vehicle on the road that it may not have caught the attention of police. I don't know. I would be interested to know if anyone has been issued a fine for riding an e-bike without a helmet. I assume that sooner or later the police will notice all of these unusual bikes on the road, take notice and start issuing fines to riders not wearing helmets.

So if you are thinking of buying an e-bike to save money, it's a great idea, unless you decide to break the law and ride the e-bike without a helmet. If you do that, you risk being fined from $250 to $2,500, offsetting any gas savings you may hope to achieve.

David Dossett Kingston

Article ID# 1127559