E-Bikes are a fun, convenient mode of transportation that can also give you a good workout. What’s not to like? However, just like with traditional bikes, understanding the rules of the road and taking precautions is an important part of knowing how to ride electric bikes safely. 

In this article, we will discuss important electric bike safety tips. We will also share with you a guide to biking safely in traffic. 

The Basics of Electric Bikes Vancouver

Power and Speed

Many areas of Vancouver are considered bike-friendly. So, you should have little trouble finding places where you can ride your electric bike as long as you know some basics about your electric bike. 

Also, riders in Vancouver, like the rest of Canada, have to have bikes with ratings less than 500 watts of power. More importantly, its top speed cannot exceed 32km/h. 

Operable Pedals

Before your bike can qualify as an e-bike, it has to have operable pedals. You may choose to pedal or take advantage of the bike’s motor,

Licensing

You do not need a registration or insurance to own an electric bike. Also, you don’t need any license to drive one. However, there are certain age restrictions for drivers.

Age

You must be at least 16 years old to ride an electric bike.

Helmet Laws

Helmets are not only required for electric bikes, but they also must be worn with traditional bikes, roller skates, skateboards and electric scooters. Vancouver cyclists can be fined if caught riding without a helmet in a public area. 

Your helmet should also be checked for wear and tear periodically. If the straps are frayed or loose or if there is any kind of cracking on the helmet, replace it immediately. Small cracks can compromise the effectiveness of the helmet during an impact. Shop for helmets that meet Vancouver regulations. 

How to Ride Electric Bikes Safely: Guide to Biking Safely In Traffic 

Stay Visible

One of the greatest risks to cyclists is that drivers do not see them. While this is more common at night, do not let your guard down completely during the day. To limit this risk, it is imperative that you take precautions like using the safety lights on your bike at night, wearing bright/reflective colours and remaining vigilant in watching for vehicles. 

While you should never try to distract drivers, it can be helpful to make eye contact when possible. Examples of when it can be beneficial and possible to make eye contact include when you are crossing a road or riding alongside a car. This ensures a driver is aware of your presence. 

Be Heard

Ensure you have a working bell and horn on your bike. Why both? Bells are quieter and best used for pedestrians. They will be loud enough to hear without causing more damage by startling someone. Horns are much louder and are good for alerting drivers. These are crucial pieces of safety equipment.

Ride With Traffic

It is a common myth that riding against traffic will make you more noticeable and less likely to get hit. This simply is not true. You are far more likely to have a crash when you and the other vehicles are riding towards each other. 

Ride in a Lane

It might seem like riding close to the curb is the best way to avoid cars, but this will make you harder to see. Instead, ride in the middle of the lane to avoid cars trying to go around you which presents more danger.  The exception to this is if traffic is going faster than your bike. However, especially in crowded urban areas, traffic tends to be quite slow and easy to keep up with. 

Stay off the Sidewalks

Riding on sidewalks actually presents more distractions, obstacles and risks of accidents than riding with traffic. More importantly, it is against the law in Vancouver for a bike rider (electric or otherwise) to ride on the sidewalk. A notable exception to this is when you are riding your bike over a bridge. 

Using Electric Bikes in Vancouver: How To Play It Safe

Keep Your Bike in Good Working Order

How to ride electric bikes safely really starts with keeping your bike well maintained. Simple maintenance items like ensuring your tires are properly inflated can help you avoid many accidents. Check your bike’s user guide to find the proper inflation. A tire with a pressure that is too low can slow you down and make it more difficult to navigate traffic. Over-inflated tires can be prone to blowing out and make your ride bumpier and more uncomfortable. 

Maintaining your brakes is another extremely important part of how to ride electric bikes safely. Brakes are arguably the most important part of your safety features and should, ideally, be checked for signs of wear before every ride. Maintenance and repair on your bike’s brakes will depend on the type of brakes you have. Consult your owner’s guide for more information on the type you have and required maintenance. 

Avoid Injury Getting On/Off Your Bike 

One of the most common yet surprising ways cyclists injure themselves is by falling when trying to get on or off their bike. Getting on a bike should be a simple task, but many riders misjudge the balance of the bike and how high they must lift their leg to avoid hooking it on the frame. 

These injuries are more common for older riders but can happen to riders of all ages. To avoid these types of injury, consider these points: 

• Take Your Time

Remembering to stay aware of what you are doing and your surroundings is an important part of all aspects of operating an e-bike. Make sure to extend this even when you are performing the simple task of getting on/off your bike.

• Consider a Step-Through Frame

Unless you plan to take on rough terrain and high speeds, a step-through frame can be a good preventative safety measure. With a step-through frame, there is no center bar to step over. 

Additionally, without this top bar in the way, you can more easily stand and stabilize the bike between your legs when you come to a stop. 

This can be a great advantage if you are carrying cargo whose weight might make the bike more prone to tipping at a standstill. Step-through frames can be safer and more comfortable for some riders while still having a beautiful design, like the Epic Cycles Ultra. 

Get to Know Your Brakes

A big part of knowing how to ride electric bikes safely is understanding how to use your brakes. While an e-bike is very similar to riding a traditional bike in terms of basic functions and ease of use, its increased speed does affect how you brake. When first learning how to ride your e-bike brake earlier and stay further away from other vehicles than you think you have to. 

Ease into the Assist Mode

One of the greatest things about electric bikes is that they allow riders of all ages and abilities to comfortably ride. By engaging the pedal assist, the setting that supplies electric power to your pedals, it becomes easier to pedal for longer distances and up hills. 

However, if you have never ridden an electric bike, pedal-assist is something you should ease into. It can be tempting to put your bike on the highest/fastest assist setting right away but it can allow you to go too fast and struggle to control your bike. 

Instead, begin with the slowest assist setting to get a feel for how the bike and pedals operate. Not only will this make the bike easier to control, but you may also find you do not need that much assistance. Bonus: Less assistance also means you are getting more of a workout and a longer battery life. 

Electric Scooter Vancouver: Safety Tips You should Know

The safety tips for using a scooter typically follows the pattern for the electric bike. So, if you have adequate knowledge of electric bike safety tips, driving should be right up your alley.  

However, for clarity sake, here are some safety tips you should bear in mind while using an electric scooter:

• Electric scooters are also not allowed on sidewalks or most bike paths. 
• It is compulsory you use a helmet while riding a scooter 
• You must be at least 16-years-old before attempting to ride a scooter.

Of course, like the electric bike, you don’t need a license, registration or insurance to own or ride a scooter.

Final Thoughts

We hope that you’ve gained considerable insight into how to ride electric bikes safely. Remember, it all boils to three essential elements – wearing proper protective gear, obeying traffic laws and maintaining your electric bike. If you can keep these three tips in mind, you should have many years of safe and enjoyable rides ahead of you. 

When in doubt about rules regarding e-bikes, Vancouver area cyclists are welcome to contact the e-bike experts at Epic Cycles. Stop in one of our shops or contact us at 647-715-9000‎.