I love riding my eBike practically everywhere, and I most places I just park it in a parking spot in the parking lot (I have Veloteq Commander SHO scooter-style bike). I always back it into a spot, so I can get out easier -- it would be helpful if the thing had a "reverse" setting!

I've also parked at City of Toronto parking meters -- eBikes and motorcycles get free parking at all of these, because we take up a smaller traffic footprint, are more environmentally-friendly and so on. I've even confirmed this with the city, via their new 3-1-1 info service.

But I notice a lot of motorcycles, scooters and even some ebikes park up on the sidewalk -- are we allowed to do this? Is this allowed in the city of Toronto?

Where do you park your eBike when out and about?

Also, WHAT can you leave -- I have a great little hook under my seat for hanging my helmet, but I've always taken my helmet with me, because it wouldn't take more than a good knife to cut it free. Also my helmet is a full-face motorcycle helmet, so it's worth a lot more than a $40 bicycle helmet from Walmart :)

Has anyone ever had their helmet stolen off their ebike?

Hi Jordon. I am unaware of *any* Toronto By-laws that mention ebikes specifically.

In 2005 Toronto amended it's parking bylaw to exempt motorcycles from parking fees:
Link to BY-LAW No. 928-2005

The Council of the City of Toronto HEREBY ENACTS as follows:
1. Chapter 910, Parking Machines, of The City of Toronto Municipal Code, is amended as
follows:
A. By inserting a new § 910-2B as follows:
“B. Despite any other provision in this chapter, where a fee is stipulated in this
chapter for a given parking period in a parking space, the requirement to
pay or deposit a fee and to use or activate the parking machine shall not
apply to a person parking a motorcycle.”

Note too that they added this definition to Chapter 400, Traffic and Parking:

2. Chapter 400, Traffic and Parking, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, is
amended as follows:
A. By inserting a new Subsection (4.1) in § 400-2B as follows:
“(4.1) Despite any other provision in this Chapter, as used in § 400-42A.2, the
following term shall have the meaning indicated:
MOTORCYCLE – A self-propelled vehicle having a seat or saddle for the
use of the driver and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in
contact with the ground, and includes a motor-scooter, but does not
include a motor assisted bicycle.”

I would take the term "motor assisted bicycle" here to be the provincial definition for gas mopeds and NOT ebikes which are termed "power-assisted"... And I'll suggest that the intent was clear in excluding mopeds from the definition of motorcycle. Because they are seen as small enough to be parked in bicycle parking. I would *hope* this same perspective would be applied to ebikes if the subject ever gets pressed, but worst case to be treated the same as motor-scooters wouldn't be so bad?


Link to Chapter 910 PARKING MACHINES here


The City is also finalizing a comprehensive new zoning by-law and the pedal bike community has been fairly successfull at getting bicycle parking spaces mandated for new residential, commercial and institutional construction...

Link to Proposed Zoning By-law Chapter 230 Bicycle Parking Regulations

If ya read that proposed Chap. 230 you will see that ebikers have COMPLETELY MISSED THIS BOAT. None of the proposals provide for any charge plugs at the new parking spaces to be mandated (SIGH)

I can't comment from my own experience as I am only used to tiny fold-up escooters that I take indoors with me. Have never carried a lock.

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...Oh yah... never worn a helmet either...

Where do you park your eBike when out and about?

Also, WHAT can you leave -- I have a great little hook under my seat for hanging my helmet, but I've always taken my helmet with me, because it wouldn't take more than a good knife to cut it free. Also my helmet is a full-face motorcycle helmet, so it's worth a lot more than a $40 bicycle helmet from Walmart :)

Has anyone ever had their helmet stolen off their ebike?

I'll post a list of photos of where I've parked my bike over the past year or so. I've been taking snapshots of some of the places to remind me of where I can plug in.

Basically, I park on the sidewalk like a gas scooter unless there's room where there's provision for bicycles and I'm not taking up a bike lock-and-post spot. Ideally, I'd find an outlet to plug into. I do park on the street next to other e-bikes or scooters or motorcycles if I see a few already parked there. There's safety in numbers. :)

As far as helmets go, I stash the chin strap of my helmet (a $140 Suomy open-face motorcycle helmet) partly under the seat, leaving the rest of it hanging outside. Nobody's going to cut the helmet off to get at it. Think about it! Who'd want a helmet if you can't properly wear it? I mean, aside from sheer vandalism. But that's why you park it somewhere visible and well lit (if at night) and alarm it if you can. YMMV.

Another indication that Vancouver is becoming more e-bike friendly.

Forwarded from the VEVA mailing list:
-------------------------------------

Hello VEVA members and friends,

The City of Vancouver has approved e-Bike, e-moped and e-motorcycle
parking for FREE at designated far-side corner clearance areas (the
space between parked cars and the intersection). Designating the space
requires painting, signage...

http://ftp.vancouver....

The City is asking VEVA where we should locate the first batch of
parking spaces. Which intersection(s) would you like free parking?

Forward me your list by JUNE 21st and we will forward them to the City.
E-bike owners - pls forward this request to your customers for
feedback.

Cheers, Vincent Law President, VEVA veva.ca 604 375 1062

The idea is produce a downloadable Map of Toronto and the GTA that shows every E-Scooter/E-Bike Vendor who is agreeable to offering Free or Nearly Free Battery Charging.

BikingToronto already does something similar for bike shops:
http://bikingtoronto....

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Another indication that Vancouver is becoming more e-bike friendly.

Forwarded from the VEVA mailing list:
-------------------------------------

Hello VEVA members and friends,

The City of Vancouver has approved e-Bike, e-moped and e-motorcycle
parking for FREE at designated far-side corner clearance areas (the
space between parked cars and the intersection). Designating the space
requires painting, signage...

http://ftp.vancouver....

WOW -- Vancouver is always ahead of us here in Toronto when it comes to environmentally-friendly initiatives. Maybe it's the proximity to the mountains?

Though now I know -- thanks for the responses -- that we can park on the sidewalks, I'm not as concerned about where to park my ebike.

It would be nice if the city legislated free charging locations at all city-owed buildings, but I can understand why they don't force developers to install publicly accessible plugs.

There are other issues than just property owners concerns about using their electricity.

The other day, I almost tripped cutting through a downtown ally way. The culprit -- an ebike owner had strung an extension cord from his/her building's outside plug, across the ally to charge his/her bike. The cord was only a six or eight footer, didn't look like it was designed for outside use, and was so short it was pulled tight between the plug and the ebike, hovering about a foot in the air.

Good thing I saw this tripping hazard before I succumbed to it. Though I imagine it is the few careless individuals doing things like this which are part of the problem -- if someone were to trip and fall, they could just as easily sue.

The City is also finalizing a comprehensive new zoning by-law and the pedal bike community has been fairly successfull at getting bicycle parking spaces mandated for new residential, commercial and institutional construction...
Link to Proposed Zoning By-law Chapter 230 Bicycle Parking Regulations
If ya read that proposed Chap. 230 you will see that ebikers have COMPLETELY MISSED THIS BOAT. None of the proposals provide for any charge plugs at the new parking spaces to be mandated (SIGH)
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This is kinda fun, from here:
http://www.toronto.ca...

You can review the revised draft zoning bylaw made available on May 27, 2010. But the on-line commenting feature is no longer available. If you wish to make a written submission, please send them to the Clerk's Office. Any questions about the draft by-law can be directed to the Zoning By-law team at:
Phone: 416-392-0194
Email address: ZoningProject@toronto.ca

According to the Planning Act and regulations, if a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the City of Toronto before the zoning by-law is passed, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the City of Toronto's City Council to the Ontario Municipal Board. As well, if a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting, or make written submissions to the City of Toronto before the zoning by-law is passed, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board unless, in the opinion of the Board, there are reasonable grounds to do so.

If you wish to make written submissions, you may send them to:

City of Toronto City Clerk's Office
Attention: Merle MacDonald,
Administrator, Planning and Growth Management Committee
Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West
10th Floor, West Tower
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Fax: 416-392-1879
e-mail: pgmc@toronto.ca

Please note that the City Clerk's Office will not accept any communication which is unsigned or which does not include a return mailing address.

Looks like they are still accepting letters! It'd be nice if all the ebikers and ebike biz ppl in Toronto could write something... maybe cite the progress in Vancouver...
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