Electric bicycles: now legal where I live (Ontario)
 

(Originally written Oct/06)

This is good news:

The Ontario government announced yesterday that e-bikes are now legal to operate wherever a regular bicycle can be ridden.

They require no insurance or registration.

The restrictions are:

• riders must be over 16
• must wear a helmet
• max speed must not exceed 32 km/h solely on electric power
• max motor power: 500w

The key organization behind the push to get this law changed was the Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa - a group of primarily electric car enthusiasts - just regular folks who took on this "cause" and stuck with it.

Links:

Electric bikes hit the road in Ontario
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2...e-ontario.html

New and Alternative Vehicles - Information Update
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dan...dex.html#power

I think a recumbent with an aeroshell and a 500w motor would be pretty slick - and within the regulations.

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The other good news announced just before the e-bike thing is that they're also looking at permitting NEV's on the road. Currently running a pilot project.

Ontario's definitely NOT pioneers in either category: 40+ US states already permit NEVs on roads below 30 mph(ish), and several other CDN provinces already permit e-bikes.