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PLEASE READ - Important law information for Ottawa riders
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PLEASE READ - Important law information for Ottawa riders

New and Alternative Vehicles
Information Update

Starting October 3, 2006, Ontarians can use power-assisted bicycles (also known as electric bicycles or e-bikes) on Ontario roads.

On November 21, 2005, Bill 169, The Transportation Statute Law Amendment Act, 2005, received Royal Assent, enabling MTO to pilot test new technologies on Ontario roads including power-assisted bicycles and low-speed vehicles

The goal of Ontario's pilots is to test and evaluate the operation and regulation of:

  • power-assisted bicycles as conventional bicycles on Ontario roads; operators must be 16 years of age or older and all operators must wear an approved bicycle helmet, and
  • low-speed vehicles driven by park employees who have a valid driver's licence in a controlled, low-speed park environment

before decisions are made on how to treat these vehicles and their operators in future.

New types of vehicles and devices arrive in the marketplace everyday. The province recognizes the importance of these new market innovations as they expand mobility options for Ontarians and provide an environmentally friendly way to travel. But, it is also important to know whether these vehicles can—or cannot—legally operate on our roads. It is also important to know what safety requirements must be met. In additon to these new vehicle types, the ministry continues to receive questions about bicycle and wheelchair use.

Before you operate a new vehicle type, you should read the information following.

 

Many new vehicles and devices, such as go-peds and limited-speed vehicles and the "Human Transporters" (i.e., SegwayTM), fall within the definition of a motor vehicle in Ontario's Highway Traffic Act (HTA). The HTA requires motor vehicles to be registered, have licence plates, and the operator to have a valid driver's licence and appropriate insurance. Anyone caught operating one of these vehicles/devices on Ontario's roads without complying with these requirements could face charges for driving an unlicensed and uninsured motor vehicle.

Also, certain vehicles/devices such as go-peds and pocket bikes cannot operate on public roads in Ontario because they do not meet:

  • Provincial equipment safety standards for motor vehicles, such as standards regulating lighting, braking, seat belts, etc.
  • Federal standards for motor vehicles used on public roads.

The province continues to review both existing and new vehicle types to determine whether they fit into the HTA or if a new vehicle definition is required. Road safety will be a key consideration in determining which new vehicles or devices may operate on Ontario's roads.