E-bikes
The Highway Traffic Act calls an e-bike a power-assisted bicycle. It must have an electric motor rated at 500 W or less, and the motor must stop helping once the bike is going faster than 32 km/h (s. 1(1)).
Riders must be 14 or older to use one on a road or bicycle facility (s. 145(2)), and must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet (s. 145(4)). The September 2026 ticket schedule lists riding a power-assisted bicycle without a helmet as a ticketable offence.
E-scooters, e-unicycles and e-skateboards
Bill 43 adds a category called personal electric vehicle. It covers devices such as kick-scooters, unicycles, skateboards and self-balancing scooters with a total maximum power output of 500 W or less, a top speed of no more than 32 km/h, and a weight of 45 kg or less (s. 1(1) as amended).
Once the bill is proclaimed:
- The minimum age on a road or bicycle facility is 16 (s. 145(2)).
- The riding speed limit is 25 km/h (s. 145(1.1)).
- Roads with a speed limit above 50 km/h are off limits (s. 145(7.1)).
- Sidewalk riding is allowed only where a sign permits it (s. 145(10)), and parking on a sidewalk only where the traffic authority allows it, which for a municipality means a bylaw (s. 122(1.0.1)).
- Every rider must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet, and an operator carrying a child must make sure the child wears one too (s. 145.0.2).
The bill says it “comes into force on a day to be fixed by proclamation” (s. 37). Until then, the Act has no category for these devices.
Cities
Municipalities can add their own rules, such as allowing sidewalk riding or parking by bylaw. Winnipeg has no e-scooter bylaw page on this site yet.