Electric-assisted bicycles are gaining popularity on bike paths, but few people seem to be aware of the regulations surrounding this mode of transport, like a mother from Bécancour, in the Centre-du-Québec region, who learned that her teenager had to have a license to drive it.
Isabelle Richard bought an electrically assisted bicycle for her 16-year-old son, without suspecting that he might not use it. It was by chance that she came across the rules of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec.
On the website, the regulations state that the minimum age to ride this type of bike is 14, and teenagers between 14 and 17 must have a class 6D moped license.
“We might have realized, like other people, when we received a ticket from the police,” believes Ms. Richard.
Luckily, she says, the bike never left the house.
She made the decision to return the bike to the store, as her son has Autism Spectrum Disorder, and the process would have been more difficult for him.
It was once at the store that the employee there would have told her that she was not the only one in this situation.
“She mentioned another family to me, a young man, who had gone so far as to have a ticket. He told the police, yes, but I didn’t know it, but the policeman still gave the ticket,” said the mother.
The rule is also unknown to some stores specializing in the sale of bicycles.
At Laferté Bicycles in Trois-Rivières, adviser Martin Alarie-Rivard claims to have never heard of it. It is also difficult to explain the implementation of the regulations.
“The place to use this is the same place as a conventional bicycle.”
He wonders regarding the usefulness of a license for 14 to 17 year olds for an electrically assisted bicycle, when his speed is limited to 32 km/h and he has no license plate.
There is still a certain nuance, since the majority of buyers are over 18 years old. Mr. Alarie-Rivard estimates his customers of electrically assisted bicycles in their thirties.
At Passion Vélos, in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, it is also rare to see teenagers who want to buy this type of bike.
“A 16-17 year old, I don’t think he would be able to afford a $2,500-3,000 bike, but what we see, if there are people walking around with it, it’s is often internet purchases,” replied seller Martin Lanouette.
Bécancour’s mother wants parents to be better informed before buying to avoid returns to stores or unpleasant surprises on the road, which can be expensive.
