Coroner’s office calls for clearer definition of e-bikes in Ontario

An expert panel is calling on the Ontario government to tighten the definition of e-bikes, in an effort to improve safety and reduce the number of fatal crashes.

That recommendation is one of seven A review of e-bike deaths that was prepared by the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario and other stakeholders and released to the public this week.

It emerged from work begun in 2021 by the Ottawa Fatal Collision Review Committee, a local group made up of police, public health officials, city staff and other experts.

That year, the committee noted that there had been five recent local deaths of e-bike riders:

• A man in his 60s who was hit by a car while turning at an intersection.
• A man in his 50s lost control of his e-bike, causing it to veer off the road and hit a light wire.
• A 50-year-old man was riding in the bike lane when he was hit by a car parked in the parking lot.
• A man aged around 50 met with the accident after swerving to avoid a pedestrian.
• A man in his 30s was hit from behind by an SUV.

The report noted some similarities across all the crashes, including that all the e-bikes had been modified “to increase their speed beyond design specifications.”

The report said each e-bike was similar to a motorcycle or moped and “cannot be used as a pedal-assisted bicycle”.

Additionally, three of the men had suspended licenses at the time of their deaths, while the other two had prior suspensions, leading the report’s authors to suggest they were using e-bikes as “an alternative to a registered, licensed vehicle.”

Four of the five also had drugs in their bodies at the time of their death.

“We looked at all those things, and we said, ‘Wait a minute, this is really about a safety (perspective),'” said Dr. Lewis McNaughton-Fillion, regional supervisory coroner for Eastern Ontario.

E-bike will reduce weight

Below Current rules in OntarioE-bikes cannot go faster than 32 km/h, nor can they be modified to go faster than that.

However, they can weigh up to 120 kg. The revised definition given in the report would more than halve this, bringing the maximum weight down to just 55 kg.

The report also urges the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) to consider a separate classification for larger, motorcycle-style e-bikes, and potentially require their users to have a license and insurance. (Currently, e-bike users are not required to obtain a license.)

It also calls for agencies to be more thorough and consistent when it comes to collecting and tracking data on e-bike injuries and deaths.

“If you’re able to say that any vehicle … that looks like a motorcycle or looks like a scooter is treated like a motorcycle or a scooter, then that should solve some of the problems,” McNaughton-Fillion said.

Despite the concerns, McNaughton-Fillion says there are clear benefits to e-bikes, from reducing pollution to improving mobility.

“You have people who have heart disease, lung disease, knee replacements — they can now … enjoy being active,” he said. “The issue is making sure people are safe, too.”

While the report was released publicly this week, McNaughton-Fillion said the MTO and other agencies are reviewing the recommendations.

CBC contacted the MTO for comment but did not hear back by deadline.