e-bikes

(Photo: flickr user lexenger)

The pilot period for e-bikes is nearing its end in Ontario. The province has luckily decided to allow e-bikes on our roads. If they get people out of much larger, polluting automobiles we all win.

E-bikes, however, have been clouded in controversy. Much of the controversy between cyclists and e-bikers has been about where the province and city should allow e-bikes: namely, should e-bikes be allowed everywhere bikes are allowed?

I believe I have an insight: the key problem is not so much e-bikes in and of themselves, but our infrastructure and education for cycling. Both are inadequate for the needs of cyclists let alone e-bikers. There is little chance of conflict with e-bikes in bike lanes, but on multi-use paths both cyclists and e-bikers need to drastically limit their speed and manoeuvre around mobs of pedestrians and dogs. Conflicts on the road and paths can be reduced with at least a minimum level of training in effective, safe and courteous cycling. Then it would matter much less if you happen to be pedalling or propelling yourself with an electric motor. The government, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that not only is it okay that cyclists get no commuter cycling training before they graduate from high school but that e-bikers don't as well.

Love 'em or hate 'em, e-bikes have been a hot topic for discussion here.

The province has opened up the discussion of e-bikes, and where they fit into the regulatory framework in Ontario. This follows up on the Stakeholder meeting hosted by MTO on June 16th, and means that everyone can tell the province exactly how they feel the e-bikes pilot has been going, and what how the province should be handling these things going forward. You can through the website and also read the backgrounder.

Comments are due by July 9th. The pilot ends on October 3rd. The referenced document highlights some of the concerns that the province is aware of, and is looking for specific feedback on, such as:

The CBC reports that the pedestrian committee is working to close a loophole that allows e-bikes on sidewalks. This makes sense, as e-bikers must be adults, and the intention of the bylaw was to allow children to ride on sidewalks.

I find that my perception of e-bikes is influenced by whether the e-bike looks like a bicycle, or looks like a motorcycle/scooter. I recently saw a bicycle-style e-biker motoring her way down the sidewalk on Queen street, and most people didn't seem to care. The other day, I was passed rather closely by a motorcycle-style e-bike in the bike lane, but was glad that he sounded his bell/horn to alert me to his presence. I don't personally have a problem with e-bikes using bike lanes, and am rather dismayed that the Bike Union has taken an opposing position. A 32 km/h top speed e-bike is much nicer to share the roads with than more cars!

However, monkey see = monkey do. It looked like a motorcycle using the bike lane. After this a real motorcycle decided to use the bike lane to pass congestion, which I do have a problem with as their speed is not limited, and can actually pose a danger.

Obviously many motorists are not clued in to the existence of e-bikes yet as I saw an e-bike travelling down the middle of the lane on Eastern Avenue, which would surely evoke honking rage if it was a bicycle travelling the same speed (regardless of the speed of traffic at that time).

It seems like a traditional cyclist's favourite thing to criticize these days are the new e-bikes that are popping up on Toronto's roads, and yes, the bike paths. Not quite bicycles, as they are typically not being pedalled, and not quite scooters, travelling at restricted speeds. More like scooters than bicycles, but importantly for road safety, they sport bright taillights and headlights, turn signals, and dual mirrors.

Here's a letter to make you think about them from the point of view of someone riding them. Maryann King wrote this letter in response to the negative piece about e-bikes recently published in NOW magazine.

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Ecocab seen in Dublin

Toronto will soon have pedicabs providing rides around the downtown core. The cost? Other than an urge to drink lots of Lipton Green Tea, it's free!

The service will be provided by a company called Go Mobile Media, which, in case you hadn't figured it out, is an advertising company. The Ecocabs are already being used in New York and Dublin, among other cities.

The vehicles have an electric assist motor, which is limited at 12 km/h.

So, Toronto cyclists, what do you think about sharing the road with these vehicles?

Should these be classified as e-bikes? (We had a discussion about e-bikes last year). If they're e-bikes, does that mean the operator has to wear a helmet?

Is 12 km/h just too ridiculously slow?

Are you willing to live with the advertising for the benefit of more human powered transportation? After all, this isn't the first rolling billboard on our streets.

Photo credit Ashroc