Rules around e-bikes can be tricky: Police

TORONTO – You’ve likely seen someone on an e-bike around the city, but sometimes they’re in bike lanes, sometimes crossing at an intersection like a pedestrian, sometimes they’re in a car lane — so what are the rules?

Const. Clint Stibbe says the rules around e-bikes are a little tricky.

E-bikes can be driven in regular traffic and operators are expected to follow all the rules of the Highway Traffic Act.

Even though a driver’s licence and insurance are not required to operate an e-bike, the vehicles fall under two jurisdictions “depending on whether you’re looking at it under the Criminal Code or the Highway Traffic Act,” Stibbe said.

“Under the Criminal Code, if a person’s consuming alcohol and impaired, they would in fact, be operating a motor vehicle,” he said.

He said you could also be charged with dangerous or reckless driving, but “you can’t suspend their licence because there is no licence for riding e-bikes.”

Determining where e-bike drivers can or cannot drive is also tough.

Just because it has bike in the name, doesn’t mean it can be driven in a designated bike lane, Stibbe said.

“If you’re peddling, you can use it. If you stop and engage the electric motor, you’re not permitted to use it,” Stibbe said.

E-bikes are not permitted on bike paths either, according to Stibbe.

“They are not bicycles and as a result the (operator) can be facing fairly substantial fines.”

But there is one place you definitely should not ride an e-bike, Stibbe said.

“There’s no reason for adults to operate a vehicle on the sidewalk.”

For complete information on e-bikes visit the Ministry of Transportation’s guide.

The City of Toronto also offers information on e-bikes.

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