E-Bikes and E-Scooters: What Ontario Parents Need to Know
E-bikes and e-scooters may look like toys, but they can travel at serious speeds and the fact that they are readily available in stores does not mean children can legally ride them. Before buying one for your child, it is important to understand Ontario’s age restrictions, safety requirements and local riding rules.
In Ontario, riders must be at least 16 to operate an e-bike or e-scooter. All e-bike riders must wear an approved bicycle or motorcycle helmet. A compliant e-bike must have working pedals and a maximum assisted speed of 32 km/h. Removing the pedals or modifying the motor may cause it to be treated as a motor vehicle requiring a licence, registration and insurance.
E-scooter rules are different across the municipalities because each City or Town decides where they may be used. Hamilton permits compliant e-scooters on public roads and bicycle lanes under its pilot program, but not on sidewalks. Burlington takes a much narrower approach: e-scooters may be ridden only within the Centennial Trail pilot area between Brant Street, the Elgin Promenade and Burloak Drive—not elsewhere on Burlington’s public roads, sidewalks, parks, pathways or trails.
E-scooters are also capped at 24 km/h. Riders must remain standing, carry no passengers and walk their scooter through pedestrian crossovers.
Before buying an e-scooter or e-bike, parents should confirm their child’s age, the device’s specifications and exactly where it may be ridden. A helmet, supervision and clear safety rules are essential. The key questions are simple: Can my child legally ride it—and are they truly ready to do so safely?
