Submitted by Larry Davidowitz.
To the Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario
Dear Mr. McGuinty,
My company Dewdad Inc/Veloteq Canada East has been involved in the importation and marketing of electric bikes in Ontario since the pilot program began on October of 2006. Having seen my first electric bicycle in British Columbia back in 2003, I was certainly surprised that Ontario had not yet adopted these incredible alternatives for short commuting needs, with zero pollution and zero emissions, it certainly seemed like a natural fit into today’s society.
As a 55 year old motorist, a bicycle was not an attractive or practical alternative, for the distance I needed to travel. An electric bicycle, with a cosmetic covering that resembles a scooter, a comfortable seat, headlights and turn signals was certainly a viable alternative. The brake lights and under seat storage all added to their charm.
Having been in the trade show industry for over 30 years, I jumped at the opportunity to add this to my list of “green products” to promote at major events across Ontario, such as the Green Living Show, The National Home Show and The Green Expo Show in Ottawa each year. I have also been asked by Smart Commute and Pollution Probe to introduce alternatives via clinics at many companies across the GTA. I have lectured at about 50 clinics in the last two years on thinking twice before driving short distances.
Electric Scooter Style bikes were an instant success, despite the “dark cloud” of Ontario’s Pilot Program. It was my understanding that during the three years, the MTO would be gathering information on their safety and how well they fit into Ontario’s bike lanes and bike paths. I witness no such gathering of information.
A little over a year ago the Toronto Cycling Union (TCU) was formed and they immediately started lobbying against e-bikes claiming there is already too much congestion and insufficient paths. This downtown “Torontocentric” attitude was extremely disturbing because my customers in Georgetown Ontario, North York, Pickering, Port Hope etc, do not wish to concern themselves with a 3 kilometer stretch of “city congestion”. To wish for a provincial ban, the TCU should be ashamed of themselves for even suggesting this, when one less car should be everyone’s goal, especially for short commuters.
It became apparent to me when I was invited to the “stakeholders meeting” at the MTO on June 16th that the scooter style were in serious jeopardy by those who seemed to know nothing about them. One comment that the bikes were too wide and too long for paths, was incredibly inaccurate since handle bar to handle bar they are the same width as a bicycle. It seemed nobody took a measuring tape to one of our bikes during the pilot program. Another “concern” was that they were too quiet. That comment was extremely bothersome, because the whirring sound of the motor is by no means too quiet and is equivalent to the clicking sound of a bicycle chain, and both would be unheard on a busy street anyway.
It was this level of comments coming, from the Ministry and the so called stakeholders that made us all aware at the desperate attempts that certain organizations were sinking to eliminate this style of bike. The term ‘red herring’ is the best way to describe what I witnessed.
To think that e-bikers are “threatened” to require licencing and insurance to travel 30 kilometers per hour and my 21 year old son could whip pass me on his bicycle and without a helmet to boot travelling over 40 would be incredibly insulting. Not one of my customers nor would myself pay to go this slow. The Federal Definition of e-bikes includes both styles of e-bikes and it seems it is only Ontario that has an “issue” with their look. I like to remind certain people, it is their “scooter” look that makes them attractive to motorists to even consider leaving their car at home when going to the corner store to get a few items, or trips of 20 km and less to work in the morning.
Our sales have come to a complete halt as a result of the pilot and I am sure much like my competition I am stuck with 120 electric bikes that no one wants to risk owning.
It was apparent at the stakeholders meeting that not one naysayer was at all interested in the fact that other provinces have had great success with all styles of e-bikes.
One would think that Ontario should have been the leader in sustainable transportation options, not the laggers.
Please help and help quickly. Our summer sales have come to a screeching halt.
Larry Dawidowitz
Dewdad Inc/Veloteq Canada East
President