The E-Bike Rider Experience

Read their submission here:

EVCO submission to the MTO (PDF)

Comments submitted referencing EBR Registry Number: 010-6943

In response to the regulatory proposal “Electric Bicycle – Summary of Proposal” I propose that no additional e-bike regulations are required (status quo)

Specifically:
- there is no need to restrict the weight of e-bikes,
- there is no need to regulate the ‘look’ of e-bikes.

I also propose that the MTO clearly and unambiguously communicate to all Ontario jurisdictions that e-bikes should be treated as equivalent to bicycles in by-laws covering bike paths, bike lanes, multiple use pathways and general land use. The MTO should also communicate to these jurisdictions that selectively excluding e-bikes to places where bicycles are permitted, will cause the exclusion of individuals who are not otherwise able to operate a bicycle from those places. (more…)

The following was submitted to the MTO  by Allan Poulsen, past VP of Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa (EVCO):

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These are my comments on the document “Electric Bicycle Document.doc” posted at http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=1942 which I copy/pasted into the online reply form provided by the MTO via the above site. Please feel free to use any part you wish in your own reply to the MTO – the more that send in a comment, the better!

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There is no weight, width, nor length restriction on bicycles, which has allowed numerous innovative designs to be used on our roadways, including: 3 wheeled bikes, recumbents, velomobiles, and even trailer pulling or cargo carrying bikes/trikes capable of carrying furniture. These are all considered “bicycles” under the highway traffic act as they are all human pedal powered, and their users should all be allowed to benefit from the addition of a power assist to make them e-bikes.

(more…)