Bikes, Bikes, and E-Bikes

Albert Koehl, Coordinator, Community Bikeways and Eric Kamphof, Owner, Pedaal

Bikes, Bikes, and E-Bikes

Albert Koehl, Coordinator, Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition
Eric Kamphof, Owner, Pedaal Coffee + Bikes

Bicycles of all kinds are proliferating on our roads. That's a good thing. Among these bicycles are electric bikes that allow a wider range of people to get around the city in a clean, affordable, healthy way. That's a good thing too. But government regulations haven't kept up with the growing variety, size, and power of e-bikes. There is a danger that the desirable growth of cycling will be stifled because some existing and prospective cyclists may be intimidated sharing bike lanes with powerful e-bikes. Ontario has fallen behind other provinces in creating rules for e-bikes. Criticism is often directed at the e-bike riders, including many who are struggling to make a living for faceless food delivery companies. At whom should we actually point a finger? At the government? (Yes) At the app companies that wash their hands of any responsibility for their riders? (Yes) At others? (Maybe). There will be stops along our walk to discuss the various types of bikes we see and the best way forward to increase the cycling mode share in Toronto.

Start Time: 10am, Sunday, May 4, 2025

Start Location: Northeast corner of Bloor Street West at Brunswick Ave.

End location: Harbord Street at Brunswick Ave at 11:30am, at Pedaal bike store and coffee shop.

Route: from our starting point we will take a leisurely walk along Bloor to Palmerston Avenue, where we will turn south, then make our way along Harbord Ave to Pedaal at Harbord and Brunswick.

Total distance: 1.5 km