The Problem With E-Bikes and Ontario’s Solution

The problem with e-bikes is nobody knows what they are.

When I first considered getting an e-bike I was looking for something that was foremost a bicycle and could be used without the power assist on but have it available for difficult hills, high winds, or the end of extremely long rides. After trying out my wife’s I ended up purchasing a Norco Scene VLT and wrote a review of it which included:

Definitions first. How do I define e-bike. An electric motor assisted bicycle that can be pedalled easily without the assist turned on and that requires pedalling for the motor assist to function. Any so called “e-bike” that does not require pedalling to move (except when coasting) is a variation on an electric motorcycle or scooter.

To me an electric motor assisted bicycle looks like a bicycle and if it does not it probably is not an electric motor assisted bicycle. I use that term because I think that is a more accurate description of what we refer to as e-bikes (Class 1 according to the proposed new Ontario regulations discussed below). But that ship has not only sailed but it has sunk, as the term e-bike is firmly established in the public’s mind.

However the fact that there are no generally agreed union legal definitions of e-bikes has enabled manufactures and retailers, as well as much of the public, to call anything with two wheels and an electric motor an e-bike, including what are obviously motorized scooters or mopeds. I have even seen what looked like an enclosed golf cart marketed as an e-bike.

Regulators are finally starting to catch up and, surprisingly, the Ontario government is proposing a classification which essentially meets my definition but with some more detailed requirements, such as weight and maximum speed. They include a separate category for heavier e-bikes such as cargo bikes, which allow throttle control, but have the same maximum speed restrictions.

These bikes would be treated like bicycles but with a minimum age requirement of 16 years for riders.

The two separate categories allows jurisdictions that feel that the heaver class 2 e-bikes may not be appropriate for a particular location to still allow the lighter Class 1 e-bikes.

I have mixed views on the age restriction because treating proper e-bikes as bicycles would preclude an age limit, but at the same time I think all riders will use e-bike more effectively if they learn to use the gears on a regular bike first so they can use the gears and power assist together rather than simply relying on the power assist when pedalling gets a bit more difficult. As well, young healthy people today do not always get as much exercise as they should in our society.

Electric scooters and mopeds and anything else that is a motorcycle-style vehicle will require registration and insurance and drivers will have to have a motorcycle licence.

Hopefully this will keep those motor vehicles off of bicycle and multi-user pathways that they do not belong on and ease some of the public hysteria about actual e-bikes that has been the result of not understanding what an e-bike actually is, because there was no generally agreed upon definition.

According to the Government of Ontario (source):

The key benefits of an updated regulatory framework for e-bikes include:
• Improving safety by enabling requirements that reflect differences in e-bike speed, weight, and design,
• Providing greater clarity for riders, industry, municipalities, and enforcement,
• Modernizing the framework to keep pace with a rapidly evolving e-bike market; and
• Supporting the safe use of e-bikes as a sustainable transportation option.

The full Ontario government proposal is below: 

A review of the Ontario government proposal is also provided here (but note it is an e-bike retailer website).

For additional information I tried to find a review of all Canadian provinces regulations that was not associated with a retailer but was unsuccessful. These are some summaries provided by retailers:

E-Bike Laws in Canada 2026: Every Province and Territory Explained - Street Rides

Canadian E-Bike Laws by Province 2026: BC to PEI Complete Guide | FavoriteBikes

Understanding E-Bike Classes in Canada: Class 1, 2, and 3 Explained - Chain Reaction Bicycles Inc.