An undercover investigation by Marketplace has uncovered retailers selling e-bikes and e-scooters that bypass provincial speed regulations. the report highlights stores demonstrating how to unlock speeds of up to 120 km/h and marketing devices to children as young as eight.
The 120 km/h loophole in provincial speed limits
Most Canadian provinces have established a 32 km/h speed cap for e-bikes to ensure they can safely navigate shared paths and urban streets. However,as Marketplace reported, some retailers are actively demonstrating how to bypass these legal restrictions.. By unlocking higher speeds, these stores are effectively selling vehicles that can reach up to 120 km/h, a velocity that turns a standard commuter tool into a high-speed machine.
This practice creates a significant safety gap, as current road and path infrastructure is not designed to accommodate vehicles traveling at such extreme speeds. The investigation suggests that these high-speed models pose a direct risk to both the riders and the pedestrians sharing the space, effectively turning sidewalks and bike lanes into high-speed corridors.
Marketing e-scooters to eight-year-olds despite rising injury rates
The investigation also highlighted a troubling trend in how micro-mobility devices are being marketed to vulnerable demographics.. Despite rising injury rates and significant medical concerns regarding the safety of young riders, the report found that stores are selling e-scooters to children as young as eight years old.
While provincial guidelines often suggest much higher age minimums for motorized transport, the lack of strict retail oversight allows these products to be sold to families without adequate safety warnings. This trend ignores the physical development and reaction times required to operate such devices safely in a busy urban environment, potentially exacerbating the growing number of micro-mobility-reelated accidents.
Who is responsible for policing these 120 km/h bypasses?
The findings from the Marketplace investigation leave several critical questions regarding the accountability of the micro-mobility industry. First, it remains unclear how provincial regulators intend to monitor retail inventory to ensure that "unlocked" speed settings are not being sold as a standard feature. Second, the report does not specify whether manufacturers are being held responsible for producing devices that can so easily circumvent local laws. Finally, it is unknown if the specific stores identified in the investigation will face legal penalties or if this will trigger a broader regulatory crackdown on the sector.
A surge in high-speed models that bypass provincial laws
The ability of retailers to flout provincial rules is part of a larger, more systemic issue within the rapidly expanding micro-mobility sector.. As the demand for electric transport grows, the industry has seen a surge in products that prioritize speed and power over compliance and safety.
This creates a "wild west" environment where the pursuit of profit outweighs the necessity of adhering to public safety standards. Without standardized testing and more aggressive enforcement of existing speed and age limits, the gap between what is legally permitted and what is commercially available will likely continue to widen, poisng a growing risk to urban commuters.
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