In Ontario, the Ministry of Transportation has set up a 5-year pilot program that allows electric bikes and scooters on Ontario public roads. Municipalities, however, have been allowed to set their own specific regulations.
In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about what is legally classified as an e-scooter and e-bike, where these bikes and scooters can be driven in Ontario, and what the rules are for drivers while on the road.
Despite the recent burst of popularity, e-bikes were first defined by the federal government in 2000, when they were known as “Power Assisted Bicycles” or “PABs”. Here’s what legally classifies as an e-bike according to Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations.
An e-bike in Canada must have:
E-scooters have a more recent legal definition with the start of Ontario’s 5-year pilot program in 2020. While there are many e-scooters out on the market right now and several great models to choose from, including many excellent scooters from Segway in Canada, there are certain things every e-scooter must have in Ontario to be allowed on public roadways.
An e-scooter in Ontario must have the following:
With these regulations, it means that many electric scooters and bikes with higher speeds and better power output are considered too powerful to drive on public roads. The good news is that even for these models, drivers can still use them on private property. Let’s look at some of the most popular electric scooter and bike models and whether they fit these requirements.
In Canada, Segway is a very popular brand of electric scooters. Many of Segway’s Ninebot models reach speeds of 30km/h and above. However, some models, like the Ninebot P100S Kickscooter, have various speed modes, allowing riders to set their top speed within the requirements.
Other models with app compatibility, like the Ninebot GT1 electric scooter, allow you to change your top speed on the Segway-Ninebot App. Segways in Canada are thus a great option.
Blutron is another maker of excellent electric scooters. What makes Blutron a good option for Ontarians is their models’ “Custom Mode” that allows riders to customize and set their desired maximum speed and acceleration. Models such as the Blutron One S40 and the Blutron One Plus make great options for the road.
Aventon is one of the best electric bike manufacturers on the market. With a huge range of capabilities across models, Aventon has electric bikes that work for every person’s needs. For example, the Aventon Solera S7 has a top speed of 32 km/h and a 350 W motor, making it perfectly fit within the limits of Ontario regulations. Other bikes that meet these requirements are the Aventon Sinch and the Aventon Pace.
Electric bikes and scooters can now be driven in various ways on many different roads. Here are all the places you can drive an e-bike or e-scooter:
Although this list is short, it covers the majority of roads in Ontario that an e-bike or e-scooter rider would want to travel on. It’s important to also note that restrictions on private roads vary, so they haven’t been listed here or in the bullet points below.
There are a number of places where riders cannot operate their electric bikes or scooters. These include:
Most of these restrictions were put into place to ensure pedestrians who move through certain spaces like sidewalks and trails at a much slower pace are protected. Restrictions for bike paths and parks are similar, as e-bikes and e-scooters are more powerful and faster in those spaces than regular bikes and scooters.
It’s also important to note that for Torontonians, electric scooters are actually prohibited on all public streets in Toronto. However, with progress from pilot programs in other areas of Canada, these restrictions will likely change.
There are a few more requirements for operating an electric bike or scooter that riders need to know.
For example, electric bike and scooter operators must:
In addition, you don’t need a driver’s license or insurance to use an electric bike or scooter, which means that anyone can operate one as long as they adhere to these requirements.
There are many fantastic ways to get around, and electric bikes and scooters offer a perfect way to navigate the road safely, quickly, and easily. Though there are some restrictions on where riders can and cannot go, there are great models from Aventron, Blutron, and Segway in Canada that make riding anywhere exciting.
For electric bike and scooter users, knowing what they can and can’t do is important. When knowledgeable about these laws and regulations, riders don’t have to stress and can fully enjoy their experience operating an e-bike or e-scooter.
For more information about electric bikes and scooters, contact us here.
]]>When considering whether or not to buy an electric bike, it comes down to how much your budget is, what your biking needs are, and the distance you want to travel. If you are considering an electric bike, let's take a closer look at the key differences between an electric bike and a regular bike.
When you go shopping for electric bikes, the first impression you might get is that it looks like just an ordinary bike. On the other hand, there's a misconception that an electric bike or e-bike is a scooter or motorcycle, which is not valid.
The main difference between e-bikes and regular bikes is the electric components that come with e-bikes:
Battery Pack. Unlike a regular bike, e-bikes come with a removable battery that you charge so you can power up your bike. Just like how you charge your cellular phone's battery to give you the power to use it, the removable battery pack on the e-bike can pedal to make the e-bike move forward. The battery pack is either a Lithium Polymer (LiPo) or Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) battery.
Handlebars. The handlebars on an e-bike usually come with a backlit LCD that tells you the battery level, the speed you're going, an odometer showing the number of kilometres you travelled, and even your favourite trips.
Gears. Most electric bikes have 7-8 gears, giving you complete control on customizing your ride each time. For instance, if you try the highest gear and activate the high pedal assist, you can go fast! For a cardio workout, try a low gear and low pedal assist.
Motor. Most electric bikes come with a 500 Watt to 750 watt motor. When you ride uphill, the engine can go up 750 watts. While cruising on a flat paved street, the motor travels at 500 watts.
In summary, the appearance of e-bikes and regular bikes is similar regarding the wheels and frame types, and the pedal and brakes operate similarly.
As we mentioned, with electric bikes, the motor is the key difference between an e-bike and a regular bike. Since e-bikes run on a battery-powered motor, it is more powerful than traditional bikes. For instance, an e-bike can speed up faster as your pedalling. While with a regular bike, it'll take longer to pedal to reach the speed of an e-bike.
Besides being more powerful than a regular bike, you get to choose how you use the motor of electric bikes. For instance, you can switch off the motor and pedal without help from the battery pack. Furthermore, you can get the entire engine range and bike with the maximum speed and power.
Yet, be careful! You can go twice as fast with maximum use of the e-bike motor.
Lastly, with the assistance of the engine, e-bikes can climb up hills more quickly than regular bikes.
Along with getting more power and speed from e-bikes, another critical difference between electric bikes and regular bikes is that you'll travel long distances in a shorter period.
The best electric bike can assist in getting to your destinations much faster than a standard bike. For instance, most electric bikes can move from 20 - 28 miles per hour.
You've heard the saying, "No pain, no gain." Some bike enthusiasts believe electric bikes won't get you into shape compared to a regular cycle because e-bikes do all the work for you. Yet, even though you can adjust the resistance on the pedals, you'll still be pedalling just as much as you would on a regular bike.
Additionally, electric bikes offer the same health benefits that a regular bike does. This includes the following:
Optimizing cardiovascular health
Improved joint mobility and muscle flexibility
Improved heart health
Increased metabolism for weight loss
Decreased stress
All in all, riding an e-bike for health and wellness benefits is achievable. You can still get resistance on an electric bike. Just turn off the pedal assistance to burn those extra calories!
If you're tired of spending tons of money on car maintenance and gas, purchasing the best electric bike is an economical investment that can reduce your monthly transportation costs.
As we've pointed out, the main difference between e-bikes and electric bikes is the battery-operated motor that gives an e-bike more power to travel faster to your destinations. So, even if you decide to ride an e-bike to work every other day or ride it with you to pick something up at the store, you'll save a lot of money on car maintenance.
Another big difference between electric and regular bikes is that e-bikes have an adequate braking system. When you step on the brakes, the motor stops spinning. This safety feature makes it easy to stop and start at stop signs and red lights.
Additionally, riding an e-bike can help you accelerate more quickly than a conventional bike. This helps manage your speed more efficiently, whether you're moving fast or slow. It's easier to slow down and speed up because less power is needed.
Knotty Scooters has tons of electric bikes for sale. If you have questions about e-bikes and their benefits, contact us at info@knottyscooters.ca or send us a message here, and we'll get back to you within 24 - 48 hours!
]]>For this reason, the micromobility movement is seeing renewed growth after the industry took a hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As fuel prices, vehicle expenses, and car purchases rise, many people are looking for alternative methods to transport themselves and their belongings to and from work, grocery stores, and other locations.
While public transportation is a viable option for some, long wait times, unreliable schedules, and forced proximity to other commuters make public transit less appealing.
So if not cars or buses, how will people get around? Many cities, and suburban areas, in particular, were built around the car-and-highway model, making walking and traditional bikes unfeasible for long-distance travel.
In response to this dilemma, many cities worldwide are now implementing micromobility strategies to help reduce their carbon footprint and vehicle emissions while providing sustainable options for commuters.
But what is micromobility, and what are the benefits for you?
Micromobility is the use of transportation that is smaller than your average vehicle for commuting and works as sustainable transport in urban areas.
Micromobility vehicles typically use electric motors, making them a greener alternative to traditional transportation using internal combustion engines.
These forms of transportation can include
All these transport forms are low-cost, easier to maintain, eco-friendly, and sustainable.
Many cities are promoting the use of these vehicles to reduce smog, emissions, and traffic congestion.
In Canada, from 2018 to 2021, approximately 37% of shared micromobility trips in cities replaced car trips, while 10% of bikes and e-scooter trips replaced public transportation.
This is a great leap for the industry, demonstrating that Canadians are willing to use alternative methods to get around their cities.
Currently, 19 communities within the country offer shared micromobility initiatives. And this number is only expected to grow due to the many benefits and profitability of these programs.
Segway Canada is becoming a leader in the industry as many companies like the ruggedness and durability of these micro-vehicles.
Micromobility can be seen as the universal pain-killer for air pollution and gridlocks by some. Let’s look at the benefits of micromobility:
Many cities are currently looking for ways to alleviate traffic congestion in the central part by creating buffer parking and urging citizens to use public transit instead of their cars to finish the trip.
While it may sound like a fantastic solution, adoption rates don’t meet the set expectations. This is in part due to the imperfect public transit system that can’t accommodate every possible combination of routes and destinations needed.
This means that some people still have to sacrifice their comfort by waiting at bus stops and changing to more than one bus.
Fortunately, e-scooters or Segways in Canada have proved to be an efficient and fun way for people to get around. These forms of micromobility are compact and allow users to travel on their own, hop on a bus or subway and then be on their own way again with minimal effort.
As individuals and communities begin to adapt to the micromobility movement, alongside the newer push to abandon cars in favour of public transport, it won’t be long before the roads become less busy.
As stated above, micromobility works well with public transportation and together, the two can begin to shift commuters away from the car-centric mindset of the past.
With fewer cars on the road, buses and personal transportation such as e-bikes and scooters will have an easier time.
While the average length of micromobility-powered rides is under 4 miles, the sheer number of these rides can be attributed to the improvement of air quality.
Just imagine that most of these rides would have otherwise been made with a car or motorbike.
When a two-year pilot project brought 1,500 E-scooters into the city of Red Deer, AB, downtown restaurants and shops noticed a significant increase in revenue compared to the year before.
Tourists and locals were finding new restaurants and stores that they never noticed before.
Though the growth may be incremental, it was still significant enough to demonstrate that micromobility could help out small and local businesses. When Goizueta Business School at Emory University did a comparison of four cities with e-scooters and four without, they found a difference of $13,800,000 in revenue in the food and beverage industry alone.
What this could mean for economic growth can be impactful.
While Micromobility has its pros and cons, we think that in the near future most big cities will move rapidly towards it.
The benefits of Micromobility are too good to be ignored, and most citizens will only get huge advantages by owning a micromobility device bought from Segway Canada rather than a car.
And if you too want to be part of the Micromobility Movement and to look for a high-quality but affordable Segway in Canada, Knotty Scooters is your solution.
We're a factory-authorized distributor of popular electric scooter brands and always strive for complete customer satisfaction.
To see our electric Segway collection in Canada, check out our shop here.
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