Has THIS ever been YOU? → you’re crossing legally, light in your favour, when an e-bike or broccoli-headed e-scooterer blasts through the intersection, or right up on the sidewalk, just inches from you. No plate. No identification. No consequences. Just a shrug and off they go terrorizing those following the rules.
We are told that bicycles and e-bikes are vehicles under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act. These riders have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. In practice, we have instead built a two-tier traffic system where one group is licensed, insured, registered, and easily ticketed, while the other operates at near road speeds with total anonymity.
In my incredibly humble opinion, this is a complete policy failure.
Toronto’s rules regarding e-mobility are a mess. E-scooters are technically banned, yet they’re everywhere. Scooter owners must be over 16, yet can’t have them anywhere in public otherwise fines can reach five figures. Luckily for them, enforcement is virtually nonexistent. E-bikes on the other hand are allowed but speeds are capped at 32 km/h, they must have pedals, weigh under 265 pounds, and require helmets, bells, and lights. They’re banned from sidewalks and highways and must follow cycling rules. Now unfortunately, all of the aforementioned is just simply on paper, and that paper doesn’t do much in the way of enforcement.
In reality, many e-bikes exceed speed limits, are modified, or function more like light motorcycles than bicycles. — Have you seen how damn big they’re making them now?? Why am I spotting some with rooves and even steel guards?? — They weave between cars, us pedestrians, bike lanes, and sidewalks, often ignoring the rules that they clearly know they can get away with breaking.
The issue isn’t that people are choosing bikes and e-bikes/scooters. The issue is that these VEHICLES capable of causing real harm are being treated like toys.
Every motor vehicle in Toronto requires a license plate, except these ones. Without plates, there’s no accountability. Police can’t enforce accidents after the fact. Automated systems become useless. Dangerous behaviour becomes effectively allowed.
Why not fix that? To me it seems semi-simple.
All adult-sized bicycles and e-bikes should require low-cost registration and a visible plate or ID sticker. Not expensive. Not punitive. Just identifiable. Insurance could be optional but recommended. If you use public roads at near vehicle speeds, you should be traceable like everyone else. Period.
Now this alone doesn’t solve the enforcement issue since most cities don’t have the resources to police every infraction. That’s where the somewhat controversial solution comes in: citizen reporting, aka: “Snitching”.
I can imagine the outrage. “Snitch culture.” “Surveillance state.” “Turning neighbours against each other.” “Big Brother!”
But hey… we already do this in North America and around the globe.
New York City allows residents to report idling commercial trucks. Whistleblowers receive a portion of the fine once it’s paid. The program has reduced violations and raised compliance, not chaos. Many other North American cities also rely on dash-cam footage for traffic enforcement. Singapore and Dubai actively encourage citizen reporting of traffic violations through apps, contributing to some of the lowest traffic fatality rates in the world, not to mention other public crimes.
The key is in the design of the system. Evidence must be clear. Submissions reviewed. False reporting penalized. Any reward paid only after a fine is collected. No instant payouts. Just shared enforcement of shared rules.
The same logic should apply to delivery platforms. Let’s face it. Most of the infractions we see in Toronto are from e-bikes having a food delivery bag on their back or at their feet. Uber Eats, DoorDash, and similar apps often fail to verify the details of the actual vehicle being used. Platforms should be required to verify vehicles and link them to registration numbers. This is supposed to be a side gig, not an unregulated transportation loophole. I believe this could easily be done with policy changes that would pressure these apps and e-bike manufacturers to make changes.
I can predict that some critics will argue that this hurts low-income workers, but chaos hurts them too. Unsafe streets disproportionately harm pedestrians, seniors, children, and ALSO responsible e-cyclists who follow the rules and then take the blame for everyone else.
Others will say this creates a culture of tattling, but the real question is this: why do we accept automated speed cameras, parking enforcement, and dash-cam evidence for cars but draw the line when the offender isn’t behind an actual steering wheel (or handlebars, sorry motorcyclists. Nearly forgot about y’all).
Rules without enforcement are, sayitwithme, USE–LESS! When everyone sees them ignored, respect for the system erodes.
This isn’t about punishing e-cyclists. It’s about consistency. If it moves like a vehicle, travels at near vehicle speeds, and often shares vehicle space, then it should play by vehicle rules.
Snitches getting stitches makes for a catchy saying, but on city streets, accountability is what actually saves lives. Should I write to the city? Think I’ll even get a response? Who is even reading this here?? hello?
