E bikes rampaging Toronto streets

Forum Sponsor
bigpoppa said:
Gonna chime in here, but I think E bikes may have inadvertently made it safer for motorcyclists in toronto...drivers are (almost to a fault now) hyper aware of their surroundings now for anything with 2 wheels...with a million e scooters/ebikes everywhere, I think its actually safer for motorcyclists now...
Click to expand...

Just because your opinion may be unpopular, doesn't mean it's wrong...

Although I still wouldn't call drivers hyper aware of their surroundings, at all... I do get that, more two wheelers on the road, means more people thinking "there are two wheelers on the road", which means more people might actually pause to look for us. Maybe... Hopefully...
 
xrljoel said:
I was cycling with my wife on the rail trail between Lindsay and Peterborough a few years ago and a guy on one of those scooters passed us. Like many on those f'n things he wasn't what you'd call considerate or polite.

A few km. later we caught up to him as the battery had died (I assume). It turns out those awkwardly placed pedals below and behind the seat actually do work, just not very well and require a lot of discomfort and effort. Served him right.
Click to expand...
All I ever see on e-bikes around Kawartha`s/Lindsay are druggie/dirtbag douc**bags flying around with zero compliance to any traffic laws or self preservation. License, insurance, plate and helmet should be required.
 
adri said:
Just because your opinion may be unpopular, doesn't mean it's wrong...

Although I still wouldn't call drivers hyper aware of their surroundings, at all... I do get that, more two wheelers on the road, means more people thinking "there are two wheelers on the road", which means more people might actually pause to look for us. Maybe... Hopefully...
Click to expand...
It may get drivers, possibly, to be aware of anything on two wheels, maybe. Hyper aware.. not a chance. All a car has become is another platform for imbeciles to f**k about with a phone. The majority content of vehicle ads is connectivity and electronic nannies to save your dumb ass when you get stupid(er).
 
adri said:
Just because your opinion may be unpopular, doesn't mean it's wrong...

Although I still wouldn't call drivers hyper aware of their surroundings, at all... I do get that, more two wheelers on the road, means more people thinking "there are two wheelers on the road", which means more people might actually pause to look for us. Maybe... Hopefully...
Click to expand...
you have no choice in toronto now, there are bike lanes everywhere, 90% of the time they're only being used only by e scooters and e bikes (by illegals from india, not the resident Fairweather Torontonian liberals who would vote for such things) doing food delivery, ALL the time (even in the winter), there are so many of them EVERYWHERE, they flood out on the sidewalks, in the middle of the roads and intersections, but mostly they stick to the bicycle lanes....

Many of the times if you have to turn right in a car, you HAVE to be hyper aware of them because their bike lanes intersect with the road (and YOU)
and in the slow car traffic, they are fast enough to keep up with cars, so you have to be careful, as they can easily and quickly sneak up on you

They are annoying AF, but make car drivers paranoid and aware of their surroundings, and on the lookout for anything on 2 wheels.
 
bigpoppa said:
you have no choice in toronto now, there are bike lanes everywhere, 90% of the time they're only being used only by e scooters and e bikes (by illegals from india, not the resident Fairweather Torontonian liberals who would vote for such things) doing food delivery, ALL the time (even in the winter), there are so many of them EVERYWHERE, they flood out on the sidewalks, in the middle of the roads and intersections, but mostly they stick to the bicycle lanes....

Many of the times if you have to turn right in a car, you HAVE to be hyper aware of them because their bike lanes intersect with the road (and YOU)
and in the slow car traffic, they are fast enough to keep up with cars, so you have to be careful, as they can easily and quickly sneak up on you

They are annoying AF, but make car drivers paranoid and aware of their surroundings, and on the lookout for anything on 2 wheels.
Click to expand...
Bro...they aren't even looking for my giant Fedex truck. You think they are 'thinking' of you or anyone else on 2 wheels. lol
 
Just wanted OP to know I did some e-bike "rampaging" last night 😂 Chaos, carnage, women screaming, children crying, The whole shebang.

Witness my chaos.

DSC00261.jpg

Talaria MX-5. I wheelied through the front door of an orphanage and started riding over babies. Then I set the place on fire just for fun.

DSC00257.jpg

See all the chaos I made (silently)?

Don't mess with e-bikers or I'll drag you to some empty trails and ask you for off-road riding tips (because I suck lol)
 
Last edited:
adri said:
Just wanted OP to know I did some e-bike "rampaging" last night 😂 Chaos, carnage, women screaming, children crying, The whole shebang.

Witness my chaos.

View attachment 75541

Talaria MX-5. I wheelied through the front door of an orphanage and started riding over babies. Then I set the place on fire just for fun.

View attachment 75542

See all the chaos I made (silently)?

Don't mess with e-bikers or I'll drag you to some empty trails and ask you for off-road riding tips, because I suck lol
Click to expand...
That's not an ebike. I like them and think they could be a good option but the government making them almost impossible to use legally is a major obstacle. I'm not risking a $5000 fine for a bike ride.
 
GreyGhost said:
That's not an ebike. I like them and think they could be a good option but the government making them almost impossible to use legally is a major obstacle. I'm not risking a $5000 fine for a bike ride.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't want to ride too far to get to trails for that reason. But they're awesome if you live right by the trails. In this pic you can see some houses backing right on to the trail with little bridges to their properties.

DSC00244.jpg

Realistically, even if a cop did see you, and was an olympian mountain biker, once you're on a trail, he's still no match for even an out of shape, half assed motorcyclist on one of these. Then you have a hundred different trails you can take to ride under tree and bush cover. They could send a helicopter and still never find you (until the leaves fall).
 
adri said:
I wouldn't want to ride too far to get to trails for that reason. But they're awesome if you live right by the trails. In this pic you can see some houses backing right on to the trail with little bridges to their properties.

View attachment 75543

Realistically, even if a cop did see you, and was an olympian mountain biker, once you're on a trail, he's still no match for even an out of shape, half assed motorcyclist on one of these. Then you have a hundred different trails you can take to ride under tree and bush cover. They could send a helicopter and still never find you (until the leaves fall).
Click to expand...
You underestimate the capabilities of the helicopter. It would have no issues finding you unless you could get under a low bridge or in a culvert. I don't expect the cops to put a helicopter on you unless you were doing something incredibly dumb though.

Running would be a very successful strategy most of the time as you're right, not much can keep up with them. It also reinforces the outrage of other trail users if you pass them at 100 kph while running.
 
GreyGhost said:
You underestimate the capabilities of the helicopter. It would have no issues finding you unless you could get under a low bridge or in a culvert. I don't expect the cops to put a helicopter on you unless you were doing something incredibly dumb though.

Running would be a very successful strategy most of the time as you're right, not much can keep up with them. It also reinforces the outrage of other trail users if you pass them at 100 kph while running.
Click to expand...

Maybe you underestimate how many trails there are in the city that go under bridges and past culverts? :)

Not to mention how quickly you can take a single track trail the cops might not even know about to an empty railway track and have your own private uninterrupted highway.

WhatsApp Image 2025-08-18 at 10.34.54 AM.jpeg

I'm a phenomenally bad off-road rider... but I'd still bet on my no-skill self over the helicopter finding me any time. I get completely lost at least once every time I go out. There are a lot of places to ride that aren't on any maps.
 
Last edited:
By the time the chopper even gets near @adri he'll be long gone...not only that...he's on an electric bike that will allow him to listen to the chopper.

Those look like stupid fun and if I had 0 kids and 3 money I'd have one in my garage.
 
adri said:
Just wanted OP to know I did some e-bike "rampaging" last night 😂 Chaos, carnage, women screaming, children crying, The whole shebang.

Witness my chaos.

View attachment 75541

Talaria MX-5. I wheelied through the front door of an orphanage and started riding over babies. Then I set the place on fire just for fun.

View attachment 75542

See all the chaos I made (silently)?

Don't mess with e-bikers or I'll drag you to some empty trails and ask you for off-road riding tips (because I suck lol)
Click to expand...
Nice bike...and great trails.
Downtown craziness continues.....watch all around before making a turn....They can fly up unseen and ......
 
Cops don't need to pull out a helicopter to find you, they have drones with infra red, heat mapping, auto tracking, and sound monitoring, plus the usual photo and video.
 
sburns said:
Cops don't need to pull out a helicopter to find you, they have drones with infra red, heat mapping, auto tracking, and sound monitoring, plus the usual photo and video.
Click to expand...

Last I checked a few years ago with my buddy who was a Toronto Police cop, TPD doesn't even have their own helicopters, they have to borrow from other forces when one is needed.

Now they have heat seeking drones they're going to deploy that are going to catch up to where I am on a trail AND tell me apart from the other e-bikers on the trails?

1755550738705.png

biiiiig stretch!
 
adri said:
Last I checked a few years ago with my buddy who was a Toronto Police cop, TPD doesn't even have their own helicopters, they have to borrow from other forces when one is needed.

Now they have heat seeking drones they're going to deploy that are going to catch up to where I am on a trail AND tell me apart from the other e-bikers on the trails?

View attachment 75555

biiiiig stretch!
Click to expand...
I agree, not likely to deploy to chase. Like noise enforcement, I wouldnt be surprised if they spent a day or two rounding up bikes in trails if enough people complained.
 
GreyGhost said:
That's not an ebike. I like them and think they could be a good option but the government making them almost impossible to use legally is a major obstacle. I'm not risking a $5000 fine for a bike ride.
Click to expand...
Agreed, they are cool. From what I've read/heard you can't get insurance on them, meaning you can't get a green plate, which mean you can't ride them on OFTR trails or the Ganaraska forest trails. I could be wrong, and frankly I hope I am.

The pedal assist mountain bikes are OK on the motorized trails in the Ganaraska but NOT on mountain bike trails I'm told.

Behold the glory of incomprehensible, impenetrable and contradictory bureaucracy.
 
Supposedly the biggest (and most expensive) Surron can be registered and insured. It has a 17 digit vin number and all that. So theoretically they could be legal on the trails, once you do a little running around with registering it and getting it insured etc.

A friend who lives by some trails out by Barrie bought one for that reason. At that price you're at a $12k MSRP though.... I've seen the used KTM electric dirt bikes selling for a fraction of that.

xrljoel said:
Agreed, they are cool. From what I've read/heard you can't get insurance on them, meaning you can't get a green plate, which mean you can't ride them on OFTR trails or the Ganaraska forest trails. I could be wrong, and frankly I hope I am.

The pedal assist mountain bikes are OK on the motorized trails in the Ganaraska but NOT on mountain bike trails I'm told.

Behold the glory of incomprehensible, impenetrable and contradictory bureaucracy.
Click to expand...
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom