My Teen Wants an E-Bike or E-Scooter: What Do I Need to Know?

They’re too cool to have you drop them off at school, and they’re a little too young to get their learners license. How can you support your teens' independence but make sure they’re getting where they need to go safely? Enter the e-bike and e-scooter. Electric bikes and scooters are growing in popularity as they provide a more accessible, affordable transportation option for many and support your teen’s growing desire for independence. However, questionable e-bike manufacturers and unsafe DIY e-bike modification kits have made it all too easy for parents to put their kids on much faster electric motorcycles instead of e-bikes by accident, with no rider training or adequate safety equipment.

So what do you need to know before you get your teen an e-bike or an e-scooter?

E-Scooter Regulations

Electric kick scooters are now part of B.C.’s evolving transportation landscape, thanks to the Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project Regulation, which allows participating communities to test their use on public roads. People riding electric kick scooters must follow all provincial rules, as well as any additional guidelines set by their municipality. Riders must be at least 16 years old, but no licence or insurance is required.

Electric kick scooter riders must follow specific road rules to ensure safety. On roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less, people riding electric kick scooters should use designated cycling lanes where available, or otherwise stay as far right as is safely possible unless signs direct them elsewhere. Legal electric kick scooters must have a maximum speed capability of 25 km/h. Each municipality may set its own conditions for where and how people can ride. Outside of municipal boundaries, limited use is allowed, but in non-participating municipalities, riding on public roads is not permitted.

The pilot continues to expand across the Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley region, and electric kick scooters are only legal to use on public roads in the participating communities. These include Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Richmond, Vancouver, the Township of Langley, the City and District of North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Port Moody, and Squamish.

E-Bike Regulations

In Canada, each province regulates e-bikes. Throughout most of North America, including Canada, e-bikes are classified using a Class 1, 2, 3 system. Up until recently, British Columbia used this system but B.C. no longer uses this classification system. Instead, e-bikes in B.C. are classified as:

• Standard E-Bike: A throttle assist e-bike with a maximum motor-assisted speed of 32 km/h. The maximum continuous power output must not exceed 500W. The maximum continuous power (nominal power) is the power output that a motor can sustain for long periods of time without overheating. Riders must be at least 16 years old to ride a standard e-bike.
• Light E-Bike: An e-bike without throttle assist with a maximum motor-assisted speed of 25 km/h. The maximum continuous power output must not exceed 250W. Riders must be at least 14 years old to ride a light e-bike. Thus, if your teen is 14 or 15 years old, they can only ride a light e-bike. They cannot ride a standard e-bike. Youth below 14 years of age cannot legally ride any e-bike (or e-scooter) in B.C.

For more information about B.C.’s e-bike classification systems, click here, or watch the below video prepared in partnership with Bishop’s Family Cycles. 
 

Shopping Considerations for E-Bikes

Buying in B.C.

If you’re wanting to buy an e-bike here in B.C., manufacturers aren’t going to make a B.C. specific e-bike unless they’re located in B.C. This means, if your child is under 16 years of age, you need to make sure you’re purchasing a light e-bike for them. Some B.C. bike shops, like Bishop’s Family Cycles, can turn down the maximum speed of the e-bikes they sell in store to the legal 25 km/h, making it into a ‘light e-bike’ that is safe for your teenager to ride. This can be adjusted again once they turn 16 years old. Inquire at the bike shop of your choice to see if this is something they offer.

Buying Online from Manufacturers Outside of B.C.

Almost all e-bikes manufactured in Europe are light e-bikes. So if you were to import an e-bike from Europe today, your teen could ride it here in B.C. HUB Cycling cautions buying from other international e-bike manufacturers, including Amazon, as they may not meet the requirements here in B.C., and may also not meet standards for electrical and fire safety. If you’re unsure, compare the maximum motor-assisted speeds and continuous power outputs to ensure they’re below the legal limits outlined in the table below and confirm they have CSA or ANSI safety certification.

Review Safety Considerations and Rider’s Responsibility Code

Before allowing your teen to ride an e-bike, consider discussing important safety considerations with them, including the City of North Vancouver's recently passed ‘Rider’s Responsibility Code’ here. 

Getting your teen an e-bike can be a great way to help them get around and support their desire to be independent. However, it’s important to ensure you’re purchasing an e-bike that meets B.C.’s regulations and review safety considerations with your teen before they ride.

Did you find this helpful? If so, consider making a donation to support HUB Cycling’s e-bike advocacy and education work below.