Ontario’s ban on child e-bike passengers (via Toronto Star)
Screenshot of the Toronto Star article from Monday, February 10, 2025
The Toronto Star published an article today about Ontario’s ban on e-bike passengers under the age of 16, which has been in effect since 2006.
I was interviewed for the article and was glad to have the opportunity to comment and provide context, as this is something I have been working to have changed for a long time!
“A decade or so ago, when these rules were made, e-bikes were not as prominent or as well understood, so perhaps it was just an abundance of caution. But now we see there are a lot of purpose-build e-bikes for safety carrying families. It’s time to update the law.”
In addition to interviewing myself and fellow parent Liam Roach (who was pulled over by the military police for riding an e-bike with his toddler), the Star also spoke to an emergency room doctor who advocated for encouraging families to use these bikes because of the health benefits of riding.
“There are years of data from other countries where e-bikes are popular and none of it points to any safety concerns for children, as long as the bikes are properly designed and certified. I see tons of children on e-bikes, but I have not seen any e-bike injuries.”
To the best of my knowledge, Ontario is the only jurisdiction in North America (and possibly the world) that has a blanket prohibition on e-bike passengers under 16 years of age. As outlined in the article, there have been a few attempts to change the law, and I remain hopeful that the blanket ban will be removed through Ontario’s latest attempt to redefine e-bikes through regulations as part of Bill 197.
In the meantime, e-bikes that carry children continue to be sold across Ontario with little to no information provided to people through vendors, or through the province.
“They’re sold at Canadian Tire. I don’t know if people know they are buying a vehicle they’re not legally allowed to use. Could you imagine buying a car and later finding out you can’t drive it?”
For additional context on Ontario’s e-bike laws, Bill 197, and what the new regulatory approach could mean for e-bikes, check out my recent blog post on the topic.