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Highway Traffic Act Regulations
POWER ASSISTED BICYCLES
- HTA Definition:
"power-assisted bicycle" means a vehicle that
- has a handlebar for steering and pedals,
- is designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground,
- can be propelled by muscle power applied to the pedals,(as per figure on page 2)
- has an electric motor but no other type of motor, and
- the motor has a continuous power output rating, measured at its shaft, of 500 W or less,
- if engaged by the driver applying muscle power to the pedals, the motor immediately stops providing the vehicle with motive power when the driver stops applying muscle power,
- if engaged by a throttle, the motor immediately stops providing the vehicle with motive power when the driver activates a brake, and
- the motor cannot provide the vehicle with motive power when it is travelling at more than 32 km/h,
- bears a permanent manufacturer's label stating that the vehicle is a power-assisted bicycle under the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations, C.R.C., c. 1038, and
- has either
- a mechanism to turn the electric motor on and off that can be operated by the driver, and if the vehicle has a throttle, is separate from the throttle, or
- a mechanism that prevents the motor from engaging until the vehicle is travelling at 3 km/h or more;
Minimum operator age: power-assisted bicycles 145(2) No person shall operate a power-assisted bicycle on a highway or bicycle facility unless he or she is 14 years of age or older.
Owner must not allow underage operator 145(3) The owner of a power-assisted bicycle shall not allow a person under the age of 14 years to operate it.
Helmet required: power-assisted bicycles 145(4) No person shall ride on or operate a power-assisted bicycle on a highway or bicycle facility unless he or she is wearing a properly fitted and fastened protective helmet.
Operation next to curb 145(5) A person operating a bicycle or power-assisted bicycle on a highway shall operate it
- as closely as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway, unless the highway is designated for traffic in one direction and has three or more traffic lanes; or
- as closely as practicable to the right- or left-hand edge or curb of the roadway, if the highway is designated for traffic in one direction and has three or more traffic lanes.
Operation in single file 145(6) No person shall operate a bicycle or power-assisted bicycle on a highway beside a moped, mobility vehicle, bicycle or power-assisted bicycle that is operating in the same traffic lane.
1.
HTA Definition:
"moped" means a motor vehicle which
(a) has 2 tandem wheels or 3 wheels, each of which is more
than 250 millimetres in diameter,
(b) has a seat or saddle having a minimum unladen height of 650
millimetres, when measured from the ground level to the top of the forwardmost
part of the seat or saddle,
(c) is capable of being driven at all times by pedals only if
so equipped, by motor only, or by both pedals and motor, and
the motor has a piston displacement of not more than 50 cubic
centimetres, or is an electric motor neither of which is capable of enabling the
moped to attain a speed greater than 50 kilometres per hour;
250mm= 9.84 inches (Measurement “A”)
650mm= 25.59 inches (Measurement “B”)
50km/h= 31.07miles/h (Most Mopeds will be sold at
49cc)
2. Rules for riding a moped or mobility vehicle
111 A person who operates a moped or mobility vehicle on a highway
shall
(a) operate it as closely as practicable to the right-hand edge
or curb of the roadway, unless the highway is designated for traffic in one
direction and has three or more traffic lanes;
(b) operate it as closely as practicable to the right- or
left-hand edge or curb of the roadway, if the highway is designated for traffic
in one direction and has three or more traffic lanes;
(c) except when overtaking or passing, not operate it beside
another moped or mobility vehicle, or a bicycle or power-assisted bicycle, that
is operating in the same lane; and
(d) at all times, keep at least one hand on the handlebar.
3. Helmets required when on a motorcycle or moped
187(1) No person shall ride on or operate a motorcycle or moped on a
highway without wearing on his or her head a helmet that is properly adjusted
and securely fastened, and conforms to the standards and specifications set out
in the regulations.
4. Driver of motorcycle or moped to be on the seat
184(1) A person who is driving a motorcycle or moped shall ride only
upon the regular driver's seat attached to it.
5. Position of seat on motorcycle or moped
184(2) No person shall drive a motorcycle or moped upon a highway with
the driver's seat placed otherwise than in the position thereon provided for by
the manufacturer of the motorcycle or moped.
6. Restriction on carrying passengers on a moped
184(6) Subject to subsection (8), no person shall carry or transport a
passenger on a moped while it is being operated on a highway.
7. Transporting objects on moped
184(7) No person, while operating a moped on a highway, shall carry or
transport
(a) any object or thing on the front of the moped; or
(b) any object or thing on the rear of the moped that is of such
size or is placed in such a way as to interfere with the proper operation and
control of the moped by the operator, or that constitutes a hazard to other
traffic.
8. Mopeds not to operate on certain Provincial Trunk
Highways
185(1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall operate a moped or a
mobility vehicle on a Provincial Trunk Highway on which the maximum speed
limit is more than 80 kilometres per hour.
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