Item - 2019.IE4.5

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1.  Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Director, Environment and Energy, the General Manager, Fleet Services, the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the Toronto Parking Authority to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on a proposed regulatory framework, safe road design and intersection requirements for low speed wheeled modes under 25 km, including but not limited to electric wheelchairs, scooters, cargo cycles, and e-assist cycles in Toronto in the fourth quarter of 2019.

There has been growing interest and growth in the use of vehicles on our roads other than cars and standard bicycles. Increasing congestion and market changes (such as the growth in e-commerce) are driving businesses to explore the use of pedal-only and e-assist cargo cycles for goods movement in recent years. Furthermore, there is a growing interest in the use of dockless scooters, which are made by companies like Dropbike and Lime and are already in use in many cities across North America.

However, the City of Toronto does not have any regulations around these vehicles, and regulation at the federal or provincial level is unclear. Dockless e-scooters may not meet provincial standards for on-road use.

Existing municipal bylaws around e-assist cycles (referred to as power-assisted bicycles or pedelecs in municipal bylaws) may discourage the use of certain e-assist cargo cycles carrying heavier loads. In Toronto, power-assisted bicycles over 40kg are not allowed in bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, and cycle tracks, which may limit the use of e-assist cargo cycles given that many are typically over this weight.

The City has an opportunity to proactively review its policies to provide regulatory clarity for residents and for businesses which are interested in the use of cargo cycles, scooters, and other vehicles. Distinguishing between different types of cycles is necessary in order to regulate what is appropriate for use in different bikeways and/or our roadways and sidewalks.