An Ontario cycling retailer is backing fresh calls from Kingston Police for tighter enforcement and public awareness around electric bicycles and e-scooters, warning that unregulated throttle-powered models are flooding city streets and putting pedestrians and riders at risk.
Heidi Colburn, who owns Westside Cycle & Cafe in Kingston, said the pedal-assist e-bikes stocked in her shop serve a wide demographic — from seniors hoping to stay active to parents wanting to keep pace with faster-cycling family members.
“I have a husband and son who ride and race competitively,” Colburn said. “So for me to be able to enjoy a ride with them I have an e-bike to keep up with them.”
A Growing Market, A Growing Concern
The e-bike category has expanded rapidly across Canada as commuters, recreation riders and older Canadians look for low-impact ways to travel. Colburn said her shop’s models are limited to 32 km/h and require pedalling, keeping them within provincial regulations.
But she has grown uneasy about the volume of throttle-controlled e-bikes and electric scooters now weaving through Kingston’s roads and pathways, often without helmets or basic protective gear.
“The riders here that are on these motorized e-bikes and scooters, very few have helmets on, let alone nothing else,” Colburn said. “So it’s concerning, safety-wise.”
Her observations echo a national conversation. Recent reporting has documented e-scooter fatalities and serious injuries among young riders in the Maritimes, where ten youth deaths were recorded in 2025 alone. Operators in that region have since called for standardised training programmes and clearer street-safety messaging.
Police Issue a Reminder
Concerned by what officers are seeing on patrol, Kingston Police this week released a public advisory outlining what qualifies as a legal e-bike on public roads.
Media relations officer Anthony Colangeli laid out the basics: the bike must not exceed 32 km/h, it must be operated on roadways the same as a conventional bicycle, the rider must wear a helmet, and operators must be at least 16 years old.
“Riders have to know whether their vehicle is legal,” Colangeli said, adding that anything capable of exceeding the speed cap is treated as a motor vehicle — with all the obligations that entails.
“If you’re caught with something that’s going over 32 km/h, you are essentially treated as a motor vehicle so all those same rules apply to you,” he said. “Insurance, driver’s licence. It must have a VIN.”
Colburn said she does not anticipate the regulatory focus harming her family’s business. Every e-bike sold through Westside Cycle & Cafe is certified and built to comply with existing standards, she noted.
Kingston Develops a Micro-Mobility Strategy
City Hall is now crafting a wider micro-mobility framework intended to bring consistent, enforceable rules to e-bikes, e-scooters and other lightweight transport options. The aim, officials say, is to protect users of all ages and abilities across roads, shared paths and trails.
The strategy arrives as Canadian municipalities grapple with how to accommodate a fast-evolving transport sector. In Peterborough, a recent head-on collision sent an e-bike rider to hospital — another incident fuelling demands for clearer lane discipline and equipment standards.
Energy and environmental advocates across Western Canada have watched the trend with interest. E-bikes are widely seen as a low-emission alternative to short car trips, particularly in sprawling suburbs where transit gaps persist. Yet without consistent rules, the technology’s reputation risks being undermined by the reckless behaviour of a minority of riders.
Balancing Innovation and Safety
Retailers like Colburn argue the distinction between regulated pedal-assist bicycles and unregulated throttle machines must become common knowledge. The former, supporters say, extends mobility for older Canadians and people with limited physical capacity. The latter, when operated carelessly, can exceed speeds suitable for shared urban spaces.
Colangeli framed enforcement as ultimately resting with the rider. “You need to know your vehicle,” he suggested in spirit, reinforcing that ignorance of the law will not shield offenders from motor-vehicle penalties.
The challenge for Kingston — and for cities watching closely — is crafting rules nimble enough to keep pace with a market that evolves faster than legislation. Industry stakeholders, safety advocates and police are all signalling willingness to collaborate. The City of Kingston’s emerging micro-mobility strategy may offer a template other municipalities can adapt.
Why it Matters
The debate in Kingston is more than a local traffic issue — it reflects a national tension between embracing clean, convenient transport and ensuring public spaces remain safe for everyone. As e-bikes and e-scooters reshape how Canadians move through their cities, the rules governing them will determine whether the technology fulfils its promise as a sustainable, inclusive alternative to the automobile, or whether safety scandals and enforcement crackdowns choke off its potential. Clear standards, consistent enforcement and public education will decide which path Canada takes.
