Question of the month from the Garvie Reading Room:
What are the rules about riding a pocket bike in Canada? Can I ride it on the roadway or on sidewalks?
The governing of motor vehicles is a shared jurisdiction: provincial and territorial governments regulate and enforce the licensing, operation, modification and maintenance of all vehicles using public roads while Transport Canada controls the importing of vehicles and motor vehicle safety standards.
Because the rules about what types of vehicles are allowed on public roadways are set by provincial and territorial governments there is not one answer for the whole country. Following are three examples of the rules in three different provinces.
Information for BC comes from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia who advise that “Mini motor vehicles, commonly referred to as “pocket bikes” or “mini choppers,” do not meet federal safety standards for use on public roads. Their use is limited on public roads to designated parade routes. The reason that these vehicles aren’t generally allowed on public roads is because they don’t meet minimum height specifications for headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, and turn signals. They’re also difficult for other motorists to see.”
On a webpage titled “New and Alternative Vehicles”, Ontario Transportation writes that: “Pocket bikes are meant for closed circuit use only, not public roadways. These bikes can be imported as “restricted-use motorcycles.” However, in order to comply with federal standards, pocket bikes require 17-digit vehicle identification numbers, reflectors and warning labels that clearly state these bikes are intended for off-road use only.”
Alberta Transportation has a Fact Sheet which explains that pocket bikes are prohibited motor vehicles meaning that they are not permitted on roadways which includes sidewalks along the roadway. They may only be operated on private property.
If your province is not covered in this article, you could contact your provincial or territorial government department of transportation for more information. A list of links is provided here (scroll down to the Provincial Governments section).
