Scooter-type e-bikes banned from NCC pathways

By Neco Cockburn, The Ottawa Citizen December 15, 2011


Electric-powered vehicles including heavier 'scooter-type' e-bikes are now prohibited from National Capital Commission pathways, according to a report issued by the NCC on Thursday.

Photograph by: Kelly Egan, The Ottawa Citizen


OTTAWA — Electric-powered vehicles including heavier “scooter-type” e-bikes are now prohibited from National Capital Commission pathways, according to a report issued by the NCC on Thursday.

“Power-assisted bicycles that are physically similar to conventional bicycles” are still allowed on pathways, the NCC says, but “scooter-type power-assisted bicycles (i.e. with a fairing) are prohibited.” (A fairing is a rigid plastic covering to deflect wind and rain or to reduce drag.)

The same rules are in place for parkways closed to vehicles for the NCC’s Sunday Bikedays and Saturday Short Loops programs.

E-bikes are classified under Transport Canada regulations as “power-assisted” bicycles, and can reach speeds of 32 km/h with their electric motors.

The NCC conducted public consultations earlier this year after it proposed rules for those and other electric vehicles “in response to the arrival of these new types of vehicles and to mitigate the various issues relating to them — particularly issues affecting user safety,” the report says.

Overall, people were in favour of the proposed rules, the report says. It suggests the increased weight of heavier e-bikes raises safety concerns if a collision occurs, but “power-assisted bicycles that resemble conventional bicycles is a way to encourage greater accessibility to the Capital Pathway,” since seniors and other physically-challenged people can cover greater distances and climb hills.

“Moreover, active mobility is a basic principle of greenways. A conventional-type power-assisted bicycle is powered in part by muscular power, while the scooter-type assisted bicycle is usually powered entirely by its electric motor (the pedals being more an accessory than an essential component for mobility),” the report says.

The heavier “scooter-type” e-bikes are instead directed toward bike lanes on NCC roads, where any type of power-assisted bike is permitted, according to the report. (All other electric-powered vehicles are banned from NCC bike lanes.)

All electric-powered vehicles are prohibited on “natural surface trails” intended for hiking and mountain biking at Gatineau Park, the NCC says.

The new rules do not apply to mobility aids, such as motorized wheelchairs and three- and four-wheel electric scooters.

The NCC plans a communications campaign in the spring to ensure people are aware of the new rules, which take effect immediately. New signage is to be installed on the NCC pathways this winter.

In response to other feedback heard during public consultations, the report says the NCC is trying to find a solution to the issue of cyclists travelling faster than the 20 km/h speed limit on pathways, and “plans to continue its efforts to educate the public.”

ncockburn@ottawacitizen.com

twitter.com/NecoCockburn

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

Rules pertaining to electric-powered vehicles on multi-use pathways and parkways under NCC responsibility

Capital Pathway
Electric-powered vehicles are prohibited on the pathways, with the exception of power-assisted bicycles that are physically similar to conventional bicycles. To further clarify, scooter-type power-assisted bicycles (i.e. with a fairing) are prohibited.

Bike lanes
Electric-powered vehicles are prohibited in bike lanes, with the exception of power-assisted bicycles (of any type). To further clarify, scooter-type power-assisted bicycles (i.e. with a fairing) are permitted.
Sunday Bikedays and Saturday Short Loops programs

Electric-powered vehicles are prohibited on parkways closed to motor vehicles for the Sunday Bikedays and Saturday Short Loops programs, with the exception of power-assisted bicycles that are physically similar to conventional bicycles. To further clarify, scooter-type power-assisted bicycles (i.e. with a fairing) are prohibited.

Multi-use trails in Gatineau Park
Electric-powered vehicles are prohibited on natural surface trails intended for hiking and mountain biking.
Exceptions

These rules do not apply to motorized mobility aids (wheelchairs, three-wheel electric scooters and four-wheel electric scooters).

Directive approved by the National Capital Commission’s Executive Management Committee
Effective as of December 2011

New rules for electric bikes (“e-bikes”) on the Capital Pathway Network
Submitted on May 24, 2012

Public Consultation Report: Rules Pertaining to Electric Bikes and other Electric-Powered Vehicles (1.4 MB)
A new set of rules for electric bikes are now in effect on the National Capital Commission’s (NCC) 236 kilometres of multi-use recreational pathways within the Capital Pathway Network.

The general rules are:
1. Electric bikes that physically resemble conventional bikes are permitted on the NCC’s Capital Pathway Network.
2. All electric bikes, including scooter-type, are permitted on dedicated NCC bike lanes (as opposed to the multi-use recreational pathways, the Capital Pathway Network).
3. Scooter-type power-assisted bikes are prohibited on the NCC’s Capital Pathway Network as well as during Sunday Bikedays and Saturday Short Loops programs. Very often, the electric bike with a non-conventional appearance is much heavier than a conventional-type electric bicycle and therefore poses greater risks to safety in the event of a collision.
4. In Gatineau Park, all electric bikes are prohibited on the 90 kilometres of natural surface trails intended for hiking and mountain biking.
5. Rules for electric bikes do not apply to motorized mobility aids such as wheelchairs, three-wheel electric scooters and four-wheel electric scooters.

The NCC developed the new rules following consultations with the public, the City of Ottawa and Ville de Gatineau, local interest groups, public sector employees from other Canadian cities (Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal) as well as specialized cycling agencies.

In its Environmental Strategy, the NCC has committed to promoting alternative, ecological and sustainable modes of transportation. The NCC encourages active mobility by allowing the presence of electric bikes that require some muscular power on its pathways and promotes sustainable mobility by permitting the use of electric bikes that do not require muscular power on its bike lanes.

New rules for electric bikes ("e-bikes") on the Capital Pathway Network

Sports & Recreation •
Posted by OttawaStart on May 24, 2012

A new set of rules for electric bikes are now in effect on the National Capital Commission’s (NCC) 236 kilometres of multi-use recreational pathways within the Capital Pathway Network.

The general rules are:

•Electric bikes that physically resemble conventional bikes are permitted on the NCC’s Capital Pathway Network.

•All electric bikes, including scooter-type, are permitted on dedicated NCC bike lanes (as opposed to the multi-use recreational pathways, the Capital Pathway Network).

•Scooter-type power-assisted bikes are prohibited on the NCC’s Capital Pathway Network as well as during Sunday Bikedays and Saturday Short Loops programs. Very often, the electric bike with a non-conventional appearance is much heavier than a conventional-type electric bicycle and therefore poses greater risks to safety in the event of a collision.

•In Gatineau Park, all electric bikes are prohibited on the 90 kilometres of natural surface trails intended for hiking and mountain biking.

•Rules for electric bikes do not apply to motorized mobility aids such as wheelchairs, three-wheel electric scooters and four-wheel electric scooters.


The NCC developed the new rules following consultations with the public, the City of Ottawa and Ville de Gatineau, local interest groups, public sector employees from other Canadian cities (Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal) as well as specialized cycling agencies.

In its Environmental Strategy, the NCC has committed to promoting alternative, ecological and sustainable modes of transportation. The NCC encourages active mobility by allowing the presence of electric bikes that require some muscular power on its pathways and promotes sustainable mobility by permitting the use of electric bikes that do not require muscular power on its bike lanes.

For more information on electric bikes, please contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 1-800-465-1867, 613-239-5090 (TTY) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY), or visit the website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca/electric-bicycle.