Province must clarify types of e-bikes
Re: “Should mobility scooters and wheelchairs be allowed in B.C. bike lanes?” March 4.
Many mobility scooter users already prefer roads and bike lanes in preference to sidewalks, which sometimes can be undulating, cracked etc. I don’t envision a problem with mobility scooters and wheelchairs on the bike lanes/paths, but do understand others’ objections.
But the real issue here is the lack of action by the Ministry of Transport in amending the Motor Vehicle Act to adapt to all the varied types of transport out there.
E-bikes seem to get lumped together and quoted as such, when in fact, there is a wide difference in the types of “e-bikes.”
Then we have all the other e-assist modes of transport, but the Motor Vehicle Act is not acting accordingly by classing the types of devices allowed on bike paths/lanes. In the EU and U.K., anything with a throttle that is capable of speeds greater than six kilometres per hour are generally classified as a motorcycle.
A class 1 e-bike is purely pedal-assist, which means that the rider must pedal to make the bike move, has no throttle, has a maximum speed of 32 km/h and a maximum of a 500-watt motor. Many of the e-bikes being sold in Canada have throttles, fat tires and certainly more resemble motorcycles, which they technically are, albeit electric. Should they be in the bike lanes and paths? Should they require a licence and insurance just as other motorcycles do? Just because the manufacturer cobbled some pedals onto them does not make them a bicycle.
Now we have the e-kick scooters and e-skateboards, which are even faster than some of the fastest e-bikes, throttled or not. Those users seem to ride where they want, be it sidewalk, bike path/lane or road, sometimes at incredible and dangerous speeds, especially to pedestrians.
Much better legislation is required, yet the Ministry of Transportation folks seem to be sitting on there hands with their collective heads in the sand worrying about mobility scooter users.
Adam Kanczula Sidney