Muhammad Amanullah
Date: October 3, 2026 The True Post (Web News) —Children riding on suburban streets, food delivery workers navigating city centres and speed enthusiasts travelling along highways are increasingly using electric bikes and electric scooters across Canada. The use of these vehicles is becoming increasingly common throughout the country.
A new undercover investigation by the television program Marketplace has revealed that some retailers are selling electric scooters and electric bikes capable of reaching speeds far beyond provincial legal limits. Some products are also being recommended for children younger than the minimum age permitted under provincial regulations.
Speed Limits
Traffic laws in most Canadian provinces limit electric bikes and electric scooters to a maximum speed of 32 kilometres per hour or less.
Age restrictions for using these vehicles vary across the country, ranging from 12 to 18 years. Some provinces and territories have not established a minimum riding age.
Responsibility for enforcing these regulations largely falls on local police, even as the number of people injured in incidents involving these vehicles continues to increase annually.
Calls are growing for stricter and more consistent regulations across the country, along with stronger enforcement.
Undercover Investigation
Marketplace visited major retailers and specialty stores selling electric bikes and scooters in the Greater Toronto Area. These included Amigo, EMO, EZ Bike, Best Buy, Canadian Tire and Costco, among others.
Undercover journalists sought to determine how easily consumers could purchase electric bikes or scooters that violate Ontario’s regulations, including vehicles capable of exceeding the permitted speed limits or products recommended for children younger than 16.
10 Out of 12 Stores
In Ontario, riders must be at least 16 years old to operate electric scooters and electric bikes.
Under provincial regulations, electric scooters cannot travel faster than 24 kilometres per hour on level ground, while electric bikes are subject to a maximum speed limit of 32 kilometres per hour.
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During undercover visits to 12 stores, sales representatives at six locations either explained how to remove the speed restrictions or demonstrated the process in practice.
Although most retailers informed customers about Ontario’s regulations, 10 of the 12 stores were selling electric bikes or scooters capable of exceeding the province’s legal speed limits.
No Legal Restrictions on Retailers Selling These Products
Retailers are legally permitted to sell electric bikes regardless of how fast the vehicles can travel. However, Michael Pasquali, founder of the Canadian Electric Bicycle Association, expressed concern about the situation.
He said stores selling products capable of travelling far beyond legal speed limits were putting people at risk, describing the situation as deeply troubling.
The investigation also found that seven stores were selling electric scooters for which manufacturers permitted or recommended use by children younger than 16.
Increase in Injuries Among Children
Some medical experts say electric bikes and electric scooters are unsafe for people under the age of 16.
Dr. April Kam, an emergency physician at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, said these vehicles are not simply toys but motor-powered vehicles.
According to Dr. Kam, hospitals are treating children with a range of injuries, including bleeding in the brain and serious damage to the abdomen and internal organs.
Rise in Hospital Admissions
Recently released figures from the Canadian Institute for Health Information show that 150 people aged 15 and younger were admitted to hospitals across Canada after falling from electric scooters during the 2025–26 fiscal year.
The figure stood at 54 in the previous year, representing an increase of approximately 178 per cent in one year.
The data also show that hospital admissions involving children injured in electric scooter accidents have increased every year over the past three years.
The number of head injuries associated with electric scooters rose from 50 in the 2022–23 fiscal year to 157 in 2025–26.
During the same period, cases involving broken bones, dislocated joints, and muscle or tendon injuries more than doubled, reaching 544 in the most recent fiscal year.
Ten Children Died
A survey released in August by the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program reported that 10 children died in 2025 in incidents involving vehicles such as electric scooters and electric bikes.
Meanwhile, sales of these electric vehicles have also increased significantly in Canada.
According to the figures, sales of electric vehicles in this category have grown more than fourfold compared with 2019. So far this year, approximately 372,000 electric bikes and 76,000 electric scooters have been sold.
Advertising Targeting Children
During the Marketplace investigation, the electric scooter recommended for the youngest users was found at Canadian Tire.
It was a Razor electric scooter with a maximum speed of 16 kilometres per hour, recommended for children aged eight and older.
Dr. April Kam expressed surprise at the recommendation, saying children of that age may not necessarily have the developmental maturity and abilities required to operate and control motor-powered vehicles safely.
She said the large market for these motorized vehicles among children was extremely concerning because presenting them as toys could mislead parents and families about the risks involved.
