You may have seen what appear to be micro cars driving around North Bay, sometimes on the sidewalks, sometimes illegally with regular traffic. They are in fact electric 4-wheel enclosed mobility scooters, approximately 1 metre wide and 1.5-2.0 metres long, with a top speed of 20-30 km/hr and a range of 50-80 km. They can feature air conditioning, heat, disc brakes, wiper blades, turn signals, seat belts, and even stereo systems.
Since these devices are classified as pedestrians under the Highway Traffic Act, similar to an electric wheelchair, they do not require a driver’s licence, permit, insurance, or helmet. However, they can only be legally operated on sidewalks, pedestrian trails, and parking lots. Where there are no sidewalks, they can be carefully operated along the left edge of roadways, facing traffic, with other pedestrians.
Despite a 5-month educational grace period, the North Bay Police Service continues to receive traffic complaints about enclosed mobility scooters being operated in through lanes and turning lanes with regular vehicle traffic. These devices offer minimal impact protection and their rider’s risk significant injury or death in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle.
The NBPS Traffic Section will now conduct zero-tolerance enforcement and lay the following charge(s) to operators of enclosed mobility scooters in live lanes of traffic:
Pedestrian fail to walk on left side of highway, HTA s. 179, $35.00/$50.00 total fine
Pedestrian on roadway fail to keep left edge, HTA s. 179, $35.00/$50.00 total fine
Pedestrian interfere with movement of vehicles, City of North Bay Traffic By-Law 2014-38 s. 3.5(1), $50.00/$65.00 total fine
E-bikes and E-scooters are classified as power-assisted bicycles under the Highway Traffic Act, (HTA) and can be operated on the roadways, but like a bicycle, they must be as close to the right edge of the roadway as practicable. That is why a bicycle or motorcycle helmet is required for them. Stepping up to higher powered, faster gasoline or electric mopeds (max speed: 50 km/hr) and motor scooters (max speed: 70 km/hr) permits operators to drive with traffic, within the lane, but stay to the right to allow for passing. Mopeds and Motor Scooters are defined as motor vehicles under the HTA, which means operators must wear motorcycle helmets, have at least an Ontario M1 driver’s licence, a permit, insurance, and a special licence plate. The minimum age to operate e-bikes, e-scooters, mopeds, and motor scooters in Ontario is 16. Note that it is ILLEGAL to modify any bicycle by adding a gas-powered engine and operate it on a road or highway. Operators of these illegal motor vehicles can be charged under the HTA.
