Motion to seize e-bikes a drastic step

Two Toronto City Councillors recently put forward a motion (Dec. 2025) asking that the city to look into options that could give police the authority to seize e-bikes and e-scooters when they are being ridden on sidewalks.

I was interviewed by Toronto Today about this proposal and called the seizure of e-devices as a drastic step to addressing safety concerns.

Riding e-bikes on the sidewalk is illegal*, and yet I understand the decision to do it. When faced with the choice of riding a device on the sidewalk, or on a road with motor vehicles travelling upwards of 50km/h, many riders might feel that the sidewalk is their safest option. Seizing someone’s means of transportation (and livelihood in the case of many e-delivery riders), is a much too drastic reaction.

My advice to the city was that the most effective way to reduce sidewalk riding was to continue expanding the cycling network and giving people more safe spaces to ride.

The basis for this advice is found in the city’s own micromobility cordon count (2025), which observed that micromobility use on sidewalks is reduced when cycling infrastructure is present. Micromobility users were observed on sidewalks about 10% of the time when no cycling infrastructure was present. That dropped down to 5% on roads with bike lanes and shared lane markings, and 2% on roads with separated cycle tracks.

Michael Longfield, the Executive Director of Cycle Toronto, was also interviewed for the article. Michael highlighted that the Micromobility Safety Working Group was created by council in 2024 to study micromobility safety, and that the group was due to report back to council in spring 2026. Council was urged to wait for that report of evidenced-base recommendations and not make premature and costly regulatory decisions ahead of time.

David Shellnutt (The Biking Lawyer) said it was “disheartening” to see councillors looking at seizing e-bikes when motor vehicles have caused 39 deaths in Toronto to date this year, including 19 pedestrians. He highlighted how a move this like could put racialized cyclists in danger, pointing out that oftentimes people on e-bikes are racialized men and new Canadians, for whom that quick call to enforcement is really dangerous.

It appears that councillors heard these concerns, and an amendment to the motion was adopted that will instead see the city’s infrastructure and environment committee report back in 2026 with their enforcement recommendations to curb e-bike and e-scooter use on sidewalks.

I am glad to see that Toronto will not be pursuing efforts to seize e-devices (for now), but it is truly disheartening to see such disproportionate and punitive responses getting air time when there are other proven approaches, like building the cycling network, that can help improve safety and mobility for everyone that are not being prioritized.

*Riding e-scooters is prohibited on public roads in Toronto as the city has not opted-in to the provincial e-scooter pilot program.