Directors have approved an interim policy to permit the power-assisted bikes after hearing they’re already allowed on Ontario roads and may help seniors who struggle with uphill trails.

The policy will be reviewed in a year’s time, when the province is also expected to complete a three-year pilot study.

Scooter-type electric bikes will still be banned on authority trails because of concerns that they’re bigger and normally operated like a low-speed motorcycle.

Even so, Stoney Creek Councillor Brad Clark said he has “some trepidation” about allowing even the pedal-style bikes, which can travel up to 32 km/h.

He said he’d prefer to await the outcome of the ministry study before approving their use.

Risk of injury

“I’ve noticed that the trails are being well-utilized by seniors, well-utilized by folks with handicapped equipment,” Mr. Clark said. “If you have an electric bike flying by on those trails come up and around a corner, there’s risk of injury.”

But Sandy Bell, manager of design and development, said even conventional bicycles can exceed 32 km/h and the pedal-style electric bikes will help older riders.

“People that I talked to, it was a case of someone who had been riding bikes for years and could no longer get up the way they could,” he said.

“They were doing it as a way to keep their exercise going, whereas the scooters, they’re really made to start with the motor on.”

Director Jim Howlett said members of an advisory board shared Mr. Clark’s concerns but felt comfortable about allowing the bikes after taking them for a test spin.

He said speed limits on trails are probably a good idea, but the type of bike doesn’t necessarily determine behaviour.

“The potential is there for the bikes to be just as bad as an ignorant regular-bike user,” he said, noting volunteers have been advising users on bike etiquette on Dundas Valley trails for years.