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[hinse]

The area I live in has a graduated license system, and I called a local drivers school to do the last step to get a full motorcycle license. The person at the other end having not encountered an electric motorcycle driver before asked the government department about the legal status of electrically propelled motorcycles.

Electrically propelled motorcycles are illegal on major highways in Ontario!

I even looked it up, and it is true.

Here is a quote from the current Ontario Highway Traffic Act:
R.R.O. 1990, REGULATION 630
VEHICLES ON CONTROLLED-ACCESS HIGHWAYS
1.  (1)  Subject to subsection (2), no person shall operate,
(a) a bicycle;
(b) a motorcycle having a cylinder swept volume of 50 cubic centimetres or less;
(c) a motorcycle driven by electricity stored in the vehicle;
(c.1) a limited-speed motorcycle, as defined in Ontario Regulation 340/94 (Drivers’ Licences) made under the Act;
(c.2) a power-assisted bicycle;
(d) a motor assisted bicycle; or
(e) a wheelchair,

on those controlled-access highways and parts of controlled-access highways described in the Schedule. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 630, s. 1 (1); O. Reg. 598/05, s. 1; O. Reg. 368/09, s. 1.

That means that Brammo, Harley Davidson Livewire, Zero, and the others are illegal on major highways.

We Ontarians have to make some noise on this one, we could get fined if caught.

Pierre

[Mike Werner]

Also means the likes of tesla, Leaf etc are out, which would seem a bit troubling.

[cloroxbb]

Also means the likes of tesla, Leaf etc are out, which would seem a bit troubling.

Uh no. A Tesla, leaf, etc... are not motorcycles.

[bigd]

Was thinking the same as cloroxbb, unless there is more to the law and was not printed.

[Mike Werner]

Also means the likes of tesla, Leaf etc are out, which would seem a bit troubling.

Uh no. A Tesla, leaf, etc... are not motorcycles.

Nope, but if they are allowed, than bikes should also. There have been several cases where cars were allowed to do something, bikes were not. One lawsuit undid that because it's discremination...

[ctrlburn]

Here is a draft of a 2006 report urging the repeal.

http://evco.ca/site/files/ElectricMotorcyclesMTO2.pdf

[hinse]

Thank you ctrlburn, the report is great.
I'll have to find out whom to speak to to get the file moving forward.

Pierre