City council passed its e-bike bylaw at its Monday meeting, after hearing several submissions from members of the public.

Among other things, the regulation defines the categories of electric bikes allowed on the various paths in the city, depending on the size of the electric motor.

Class 1 electric bikes are bikes with a 500 watt motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling. Motorized assistance stops when the bike reaches 32 kilometers per hour.

Class 1 bicycles, as well as adapted mountain bikes, are permitted on all trails and cycle paths.

Adapted mountain bikes (AMTB), are bicycles suitable for the use of people with disabilities or with special needs who cannot use a two-wheeled bicycle.

Class two e-bikes are bicycles equipped with a throttle that can be propelled only by the motor, which starts at 32 km / h.

Class two bikes, as well as electric scooters and electronic devices, are only permitted on Type 1 trails, which are double track trails paved with asphalt or chip sealer.

The most powerful class, the electric bikes of class 3, have a power of 750 watts. The engine stops when the bike reaches 45 km / h.

Class three bicycles are only permitted on roads, bike trails, multi-use motorized trails, and the Two Mile Hill Multi-Use Trail.

The regulation also establishes other regulations, such as prohibiting passengers of all categories of electric bikes, electric scooters and electric mobility devices from operating their bikes while wearing headphones or other capable devices. to transmit sound.

“Notwithstanding any other provision of these regulations, unless a person driving an electric bicycle, an electric scooter, an electric mobility device or a mountain bike cannot provide more than one meter of separation when he passes another user of the Trail, the person riding an electric bike must give a sound signal by voice, bell or other signaling device before passing another user of the trail, ”says the regulation.

Several submissions received called on council to ease restrictions on the use of electric bikes, as well as consider increasing the power cap for motors to 1,000 or 1,500 watts.

“Top speed is barely increased, but climb power is much more efficient and engine life is increased,” says one of the submissions.

“It’s much more appropriate for our city.”

Another submission says, “The demand for active transportation, some of which is electrically assisted, is increasing. The solution is to better accommodate electric bicycles, and not to prohibit or limit their use. “

Many of the submissions highlighted how the use of electric bikes removes the need for residents to drive their regular fossil fuel vehicles, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Many cyclists also known on regular bikes can also achieve significant speeds along the trails simply by pedaling.