| « No Gatineau Money for Bixi Bikes | The world has changed » |
Do you want motorized scooters on the NCC paths?
04/21/11
Do you want motorized scooters on the NCC paths?
The NCC will be holding public consultations on the use of so called electric bikes on NCC pathways and bike lanes. The consultation will be held in Ottawa on May 3 & 4, 2011 (see the link below for more details).
The problem with all of this is that industry quickly started to build battery powered motorized scooters that technically and legally fall within the definition of an electric bicycle. These vehicles look like full fledged scooters and often weight as much 165 pounds (75 kg). In other words, these electric scooters are nothing more than motorized vehicles. (If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it must be a duck.)
From 2006 to 2009, Ontario conducted a three-year pilot project to allow for the use of "electric power-assisted bikes" on roads, bike lanes, and pathways coming under provincial jurisdiction. Initially, this pilot project was aimed at electric bikes that resemble conventional bicycles that are designed to be primarily operated by muscular power. Even the government website for the pilot project acknowledged that while scooter-style vehicles did meet the technical requirements, they did not meet the intent of the e-bike definition.
Unfortunately, when the pilot project came to an end, the Ontario Government took no steps to distinguish e-bikes from electric scooters. Instead, the government immediately decided (without any assessment period) to continue with the arrangements that were in place, which, among other things, allowed for the permanent use of motorized scooters wherever bicycles are allowed. (Do you think that, just maybe, the responsible minister was lobbied by the electric scooter industry?)
Although e-bikes and electric scooters can now be used on most bike lanes and paths coming under Ontario’s jurisdiction, up to now, they are not allowed on NCC facilities. As a result, the NCC has decided to hold public consultations on what what policies it should adopt about the use of e-bikes on its pathways and bike lanes. The rules being proposed by the NCC would only allow the type of e-bikes designed to be primarily operated by muscular power on pathways and certain other areas. However, the proposed rules would allow battery powered motorized scooters on bike lanes managed by the NCC.
Somehow, it seems to be self defeating to allow these scooters in bike lanes that are supposed to be free of motorized vehicles.
Click here for more about the NCC public consultations process.
Click here for more about Ontario's regulation about e-bikes and electric scooters.
Click here for a photo of a battery powered motorized scooter.
The problem with all of this is that industry quickly started to build battery powered motorized scooters that technically and legally fall within the definition of an electric bicycle. These vehicles look like full fledged scooters and often weight as much 165 pounds (75 kg). In other words, these electric scooters are nothing more than motorized vehicles. (If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it must be a duck.)
From 2006 to 2009, Ontario conducted a three-year pilot project to allow for the use of "electric power-assisted bikes" on roads, bike lanes, and pathways coming under provincial jurisdiction. Initially, this pilot project was aimed at electric bikes that resemble conventional bicycles that are designed to be primarily operated by muscular power. Even the government website for the pilot project acknowledged that while scooter-style vehicles did meet the technical requirements, they did not meet the intent of the e-bike definition.
Unfortunately, when the pilot project came to an end, the Ontario Government took no steps to distinguish e-bikes from electric scooters. Instead, the government immediately decided (without any assessment period) to continue with the arrangements that were in place, which, among other things, allowed for the permanent use of motorized scooters wherever bicycles are allowed. (Do you think that, just maybe, the responsible minister was lobbied by the electric scooter industry?)
Although e-bikes and electric scooters can now be used on most bike lanes and paths coming under Ontario’s jurisdiction, up to now, they are not allowed on NCC facilities. As a result, the NCC has decided to hold public consultations on what what policies it should adopt about the use of e-bikes on its pathways and bike lanes. The rules being proposed by the NCC would only allow the type of e-bikes designed to be primarily operated by muscular power on pathways and certain other areas. However, the proposed rules would allow battery powered motorized scooters on bike lanes managed by the NCC.
Somehow, it seems to be self defeating to allow these scooters in bike lanes that are supposed to be free of motorized vehicles.
Click here for more about the NCC public consultations process.
Click here for more about Ontario's regulation about e-bikes and electric scooters.
Click here for a photo of a battery powered motorized scooter.
(NOTE: registered users can log-in and post a comment.)
1 comment
Comment from: ottawaoutdoorsdave [Member] 
Hey Mike
In addition to loving cycling, I also own a GIOBike, the scooter-looking, battery-powered bikes the NCC is purposing to ban from its pathways. I am glad they are to be allowed in the bicycle lanes, but you also bring up a good point. If they are "safe enough" to be in a bicycle lane, then I would argue they should be safe enough to travel along the wider-laned canal pathways, and others the NCC oversees. (though, I think you were suggesting to ban them entirely).
Anyways, stealing from Scooterboy, and all his valid points, and adding some of mine, I'd like to sum up the reasons why we battery-powered, non-conventional-bike-looking-scooter-riders feel everybody is safe, or more safe with us also sharing the pathways. We feel we have the right to these paths, and all we request is the same fairness.
1 - considering how fast cyclists can get going on these paths, e-bikes can stop more quickly as we are limited to the maximum speed we can go -- as well, there's an advanced braking system
2 - it is not the size of the vehicle that injures people but rather the impact. A bicycle with a 250lb rider traveling 25km’s/hr will have a higher impact force than a 110lb rider on an ebike traveling the same speed.
3 - the impact of a tandem bike with 2 riders will have a significantly higher impact force and longer braking distances as well. Should we ban these as well as it is clear that these would be significantly more dangerous?
4 - should we ban cyclists towing a trailer with 2 children behind them as well? These are much wider than e-bikes/escooters and have significantly less braking ability than an e-bike/escooter. They take up more room, more width, and are not banned.
5 - an e-bike group will be on the pathways in the coming days with a speed gun proving that the real problems lie with cyclists speeding not ebikers.
6 - e-scooter riders are tax paying individuals who have paid their fair share of taxes to have access to federal pathways.
7 - head is always up, looking straight ahead,
8 - ride is safe, smooth and steady
9 - arriving at place of work or meeting in a non-sweaty mode will attract more commuters, encourage the greening of our city, and save on emissions
10 - saves on parking fees and gas
11 - riders enjoy the scenery in a relaxed state, with lots of time to see and foresee any possible collisions to be easily avoided
12 - GIOBikes are low to the ground, so getting feet down is easy and fast.
The NCC has to change their mind on this….I hope.
Dave Brown
Publisher, Ottawa Outdoors Magazine
In addition to loving cycling, I also own a GIOBike, the scooter-looking, battery-powered bikes the NCC is purposing to ban from its pathways. I am glad they are to be allowed in the bicycle lanes, but you also bring up a good point. If they are "safe enough" to be in a bicycle lane, then I would argue they should be safe enough to travel along the wider-laned canal pathways, and others the NCC oversees. (though, I think you were suggesting to ban them entirely).
Anyways, stealing from Scooterboy, and all his valid points, and adding some of mine, I'd like to sum up the reasons why we battery-powered, non-conventional-bike-looking-scooter-riders feel everybody is safe, or more safe with us also sharing the pathways. We feel we have the right to these paths, and all we request is the same fairness.
1 - considering how fast cyclists can get going on these paths, e-bikes can stop more quickly as we are limited to the maximum speed we can go -- as well, there's an advanced braking system
2 - it is not the size of the vehicle that injures people but rather the impact. A bicycle with a 250lb rider traveling 25km’s/hr will have a higher impact force than a 110lb rider on an ebike traveling the same speed.
3 - the impact of a tandem bike with 2 riders will have a significantly higher impact force and longer braking distances as well. Should we ban these as well as it is clear that these would be significantly more dangerous?
4 - should we ban cyclists towing a trailer with 2 children behind them as well? These are much wider than e-bikes/escooters and have significantly less braking ability than an e-bike/escooter. They take up more room, more width, and are not banned.
5 - an e-bike group will be on the pathways in the coming days with a speed gun proving that the real problems lie with cyclists speeding not ebikers.
6 - e-scooter riders are tax paying individuals who have paid their fair share of taxes to have access to federal pathways.
7 - head is always up, looking straight ahead,
8 - ride is safe, smooth and steady
9 - arriving at place of work or meeting in a non-sweaty mode will attract more commuters, encourage the greening of our city, and save on emissions
10 - saves on parking fees and gas
11 - riders enjoy the scenery in a relaxed state, with lots of time to see and foresee any possible collisions to be easily avoided
12 - GIOBikes are low to the ground, so getting feet down is easy and fast.
The NCC has to change their mind on this….I hope.
Dave Brown
Publisher, Ottawa Outdoors Magazine
04/28/11 @ 13:36
Comment feed for this post
Recent comments