Beginner’s guide to e-biking in Ontario

What is an e-bike?

An e-bike provides assisted pedalling from an electric motor charged from a battery. You must be pedalling, but the bike provides a surge of power depending on the mode you select. You can also put the bike into a quick boost mode to get you up and over steep climbs.

E-bikes are often confused with e-bikes powered with a throttle, which can run entirely without pedalling.

On e-bikes, the battery pack is attached into the frame of the bike on the downtube and can be charged. You can buy a second battery to keep in your pack for longer rides. A typical battery will go up to 160 kilometres or more on a full charge, depending on the capacity (measured in watt-hours). Batteries are expensive, so an e-bike with a longer range will typically cost more.

In Ontario, the maximum speed on trails is 32 kilometres per hour and you must wear a helmet on an e-bike. Riders must be 16 years of age or older.

Why e-biking is a great option

For the lovers of enduro style riding, an e-bike makes it possible for you to do more loops of your favourite trail without getting too exhausted on the mandatory climb.

For multigenerational families, e-bikes enable you to go on rides with everyone, regardless of fitness and skill level.

And for anyone recovering from an injury, an e-bike allows you to still get outside while you’re healing.

E-bike tours and rentals in Southern Ontario

If you’re new to e-biking and want to know more, here’s where to rent and what tours to take across Ontario.

Toronto

Connect with Toronto’s vibrant culture and beautiful landscapes on an eco-friendly e-bike tour with Toronto Bicycle Tours & Events. Whether you're a local or new to the city, the Pedals and Progress E-bike Tour offers a relaxing way to explore interesting and lesser known areas in the city. Private tours are also available for a more personalized experience of the Toronto.

Ottawa

Explore Ottawa with Escape Bicycle Tours & Rentals on your own or a leisurely tour through the city’s attractions, neighbourhoods and trails.

For the self-guided cyclist, a great e-bike route is the paved Capital Pathway which goes through parks, museums (don’t miss the Canadian War Museum) and picnic spots.

Niagara

Visit the best wineries in Niagara Region on a six-day all inclusive bike tour with Sojourn Bicycling & Active Vacations. E-bikes are limited on a first come first serve basis.

Snap E Bike rents out e-bikes and offers a three-hour tour along the Niagara River, which makes frequent stops to learn about the area’s rich history. The 25-kilometre trip passes through sites such as Brock’s Monument, a 56-metre-tall column at the top of Queenston Heights, which is a memorial to the British soldier who defended Canada against the Americans in the war of 1812. Other stops include the Niagara Whirlpool and the Botanical Gardens, as well as the Falls, of course.

If you’re feeling ambitious and independent, you can ride the 56 kilometres trail from Old Fort Erie to Fort George. As you bike, stop by historic Indigenous monuments and centres including the Mewinzha Archeological Gallery in Fort Erie and the Indian Council House in Niagara-on-the-Lake. 

Rent an e-bike for either half a day or a full day from eBike Niagara. After your adventure, you can return your bike to the contactless drop off and place the key in the lock box.

Prince Edward County

Westlake E-Bikes offers e-bike rentals and charges a fee for delivery from an 18-kilometre radius from their shop in Wellington. Pedago Electric Bikes also offers e-bike rentals in Prince Edward County as well as Grand Bend.

Ride your bike along the Millennium Trail. This 49-kilometre former rail line passes through mostly rural areas, as well as a few towns, including Picton.

For a short ride with many stops, follow the blue PEC Arts Trail signs to see local art galleries and studios.

E-bike tours and rentals in Central Ontario

Haliburton

The trails are endless—some of the region’s favourites include the 300 kilometres in Haliburton Forest and the 35-kilometre Haliburton County Rail Trail that runs to the community of Kinmount and continues onto the Victoria Rail Trail, which adds another 55 kilometres of trail past wetlands, bogs and an abandoned chemical plant.

Georgian Bay

Georgian Trail E-Bike Rentals offers four- or eight-hour rentals at a variety of locations in the Georgian Bay area including Collingwood, Creemore, and The Blue Mountains. Locks and helmets are provided.

The Georgian Trail, a former rail line, offers a flat crushed gravel ride for 34 kilometres between Collingwood and Meaford. Stop in Thornbury or Meaford at Pom Pom Treat Hut for homemade vegan ice cream.

E-bike tours and rentals in Northern Ontario

Thunder Bay

Located on the northeastern side of Lake Superior, Delta Hotels Thunder Bay has a fleet of e-bikes available for rent. Helmets and locks are included. You can get a discount on the hourly rate if you’re a Marriott Bonvoy rewards member.

The cruiser bikes are great for riding around Prince Arthur’s Landing and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, where downtown restaurants and shopping are minutes away.

E-bike trails in Thunder Bay include the Trowbridge Forest Trail System, which consists of 30 kilometres of mountain bike-optimized singletrack trail, a bike skills park and 25 kilometres of Nordic doubletrack.