The TTC has deferred a vote that could ban e-bikes and e-scooters within the city’s transit system during winter months.
The decision to delay came after numerous issues arose during a board meeting on Tuesday.
The ban was set to come into effect on Nov. 15, but has been deferred until December pending an analysis from the TTC’s Racial Equity Office, according to the board’s decision note, which says the review should “assess potential impacts that a ban of lithium-ion-powered micro mobility devices, including e-bikes and e-scooters, may have on equity deserving groups and gig workers.”
Whether e-bikes and e-scooters should be allowed on Toronto’s public transit system or at all on its streets has long been a topic of discussion, largely due to safety concerns.
For instance, lithium-ion-powered devices have been known to catch fire.
In December last year, an e-bike was the cause of a major blaze on a Line 1 subway car approaching Sheppard Yonge Station.
Read More
Similarly, their speed and ubiquity in pedestrian areas has led to complaints over their tendency to ride on the sidewalk and aggression towards cyclists.
According to city regulations, e-bikes can travel at speeds up to 45 km an hour and riders can be fined up to $300 for failing to yield to a pedestrian, while driving or operating a prohibited vehicle on a pedestrian way will result in a $60-fine.
In a recent online post, one Reddit user said they were knocked off their pedal bike along College Street by an e-biker who was weaving at a high speed in the bike lanes with bulky baggage in tow.
“An e-bike tried to pass me out of nowhere to my left at decently high speed. Their bag hanging off to the side brushed past me and caught me by total surprise, so I swerved towards the sidewalk and basically jumped off the bike,” the person wrote.
Others expressed similar concerns, while some drivers reported having minor collisions with e-bikes.
“I always have close calls in the Adelaide bike lane because of this sort of behaviour. These guys on mopeds and e-bikes that don’t require any pedalling are such a menace. I swear that half the time they’re on their phones too,” one person responded.
“I see e-bikes breaking every rule of the road, even using crosswalks as shortcuts. I’m a driver and I have lost count how many have appeared out of nowhere – in fact a while ago I gently hit one because I started a turn and he thought he could race in front of me quick enough to not be hit,” someone else responded.
Many e-bike riders are food couriers and gig-economy workers, which the TTC board cited as the main reason for the postponement of the vote in its recent meeting, responding to a demand for delivery services.
Read More
However, the board says if it were to prohibit e-bikes and other lithium-ion-powered devices it would be largely due to a lack of existing regulation.
“The primary safety concerns are fire risks associated with the lithium-ion batteries found in these devices, particularly those uncertified or misused,” Tuesday’s meeting notes said.
Unstable temperatures can also increase the likelihood of short circuit fires. In addition, it is difficult to verify battery integrity when exposed to chemicals such as salt and de-icing materials used during the winter.
The TTC’s final decision will be announced following its next board meeting on Dec. 3.
