Know e-bikes rules

According to the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act, e-bikes (also called motor-assisted cycles) must have pedals, a motor with a speed limiter, and other features, to be allowed on public roads. E-dirt bikes do not have pedals and run only on an electric motor, so they cannot be registered or insured for road use.

If you are caught riding an e-dirt bike on a public road, you could face several penalties. These include fines for no insurance ($598), not having a driver’s license ($276 and three demerit points), and not wearing a helmet ($138 and two demerit points). Your vehicle could also be impounded for seven days.

The consequences are even more serious for young people. If a youth without a license gets a ticket, it could make it harder for them to get a B.C. driver’s license later on.

Cooper also asks parents to check the age requirements before buying an e-bike for their child. Standard e-bikes are for riders 16 and older. There is a new ‘light e-bike’ category with lower speed and power limits for riders aged 14 and 15, but parents still need to supervise closely.

“We want to make sure that if we’re letting our younger users use them, we want to make sure that they’re using one that’s appropriate for their age and their abilities and that we’ve gone over the rules of the road with our younger users,” Cooper said.

E-bike riders must wear an approved helmet, obey all traffic laws, and not ride on sidewalks. Prince George is also part of a provincial e-scooter pilot project, and only people 16 and older can use e-scooters.

The RCMP will continue to focus on education and enforcement throughout the season. For more details about e-bike types and legal rules, visit the Prince George RCMP website.

by Dave Branco

Know e-bikes rules

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