Electric motorcycle driver charged
The owner of an electric motorcycle, not an e-bike, was charged with a number of offences following a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon.
An officer with the Belleville Police Service Traffic Unit pulled over the driver of the electric motorcycle on Church Street after he was spotted running a red light around 2:30 p.m.
The vehicle was determined to be unsafe to drive.
The 37-year-old Belleville man operating the vehicle was charged with:
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Drive motorcycle no licence;
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Drive vehicle with no licence plates;
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Drive vehicle with no insurance;
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Failing to stop at a red light.
The driver was issued a November 18, 2024 date in Traffic Court to face the charges.
Police remind the public that an e-bike operates under specific regulations. If it exceeds the speed or specific criteria for an e-bike, it is considered a motorcycle under the Highway Traffic Act and is subject to additional licensing and regulations.
Additional information about e-bikes
A power-assisted bicycle, also called an electric bicycle or e-bike, is a bicycle with an electric motor that has:
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a handlebar for steering
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working pedals
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two or three wheels
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an electric motor
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braking systems
E-bikes must meet certain requirements to be legally operated on roads in Ontario including weight and speed limits.
When riding an e-bike, you must:
- be 16 or older
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wear an approved bicycle or motorcycle helmet
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keep your e-bike in good working order
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follow the same rules of the road as other cyclists
To operate an e-bike in Ontario, the e-bike must have:
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a maximum assisted speed of 32 km/h
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a maximum weight of 120 kg (includes the weight of the bike and battery)
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an electric motor not exceeding 500 watts
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no modifications to the motor to allow it to exceed a power output greater than 500 watts and an assisted speed greater than 32 km/h
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battery and electric motor securely fastened to the bicycle frame to prevent them from moving while the e-bike is operating
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all electrical terminals properly insulated
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minimum wheel width of 35 mm and minimum diameter of 350 mm
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two independent braking systems that apply force to each wheel and are capable of bringing the e-bike, while being operated at a speed of 30 km/h, to a full stop within nine metres, on a level asphalt surface, from the point at which the brakes were applied
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Removing the pedals makes the e-bike a motor vehicle, which requires a licence, insurance and registration to operate. It is also illegal to modify your e-bike’s electric motor to make it more powerful or to increase the assisted speed of the bike.
For more information, visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/riding-e-bike#section-2
