The Highway Traffic Amendment and Drivers and Vehicles Amendment Act
Chamber
manitoba
Stage
Introduced
This Manitoba bill regulates personal electric vehicles, three-wheeled vehicles, and automated driving systems on public roads.
Key Changes
- Creates a legal definition for 'personal electric vehicle' (PEV), covering e-scooters, skateboards, self-balancing scooters, and unicycles with motors up to 500W and a top speed of 32 km/h
- Sets a minimum age of 16 to operate most PEVs, and 14 for power-assisted bicycles; owners cannot allow underage riders
- Limits PEV speed to 25 km/h on highways and bicycle facilities, and bans PEVs from roads with speed limits above 50 km/h (except to cross at intersections)
- Requires helmets for all PEV operators and passengers, with exceptions for private residential and agricultural property
- Introduces rules for three-wheeled vehicles, including helmet requirements, a ban on towing, and a prohibition on carrying passengers who would require a child restraint seat
- Clarifies that automated driving systems (Level 3, 4, or 5) can only be used on Manitoba roads under an approved pilot project or technology testing permit
Gotchas
- Power-assisted bicycles are included within the broader 'personal electric vehicle' definition but retain some distinct rules, such as a lower minimum age (14) and exemption from the 25 km/h speed cap and the ban on highways with speed limits above 50 km/h
- PEVs may be allowed on sidewalks only if a traffic authority (such as a municipal council by bylaw) specifically authorizes it, meaning rules could vary significantly between municipalities
- The helmet requirement does not apply on privately owned residential or agricultural property where the operator has permission, creating a private-property exception
- PEVs (other than power-assisted bicycles) cannot carry passengers or tow anything while on a highway or bicycle facility
- The bill comes into force on a date set by government proclamation, meaning the exact effective date is not yet determined and could vary for different provisions
Who's Affected
- Manitobans who own or use electric scooters, skateboards, self-balancing scooters, or unicycles
- Young people under 16 who may currently use PEVs
- Owners and operators of three-wheeled vehicles
- Companies or researchers testing automated (self-driving) vehicle technology in Manitoba
- Municipal governments, which can authorize PEV parking on sidewalks by bylaw
- Vehicle owners with overweight or overdimensional permits, who must now also register and plate their vehicles
Vibes
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Gotchas
- Power-assisted bicycles are included within the broader 'personal electric vehicle' definition but retain some distinct rules, such as a lower minimum age (14) and exemption from the 25 km/h speed cap and the ban on highways with speed limits above 50 km/h
- PEVs may be allowed on sidewalks only if a traffic authority (such as a municipal council by bylaw) specifically authorizes it, meaning rules could vary significantly between municipalities
- The helmet requirement does not apply on privately owned residential or agricultural property where the operator has permission, creating a private-property exception
- PEVs (other than power-assisted bicycles) cannot carry passengers or tow anything while on a highway or bicycle facility
- The bill comes into force on a date set by government proclamation, meaning the exact effective date is not yet determined and could vary for different provisions
Summary
This bill updates Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act and related laws to create new rules for personal electric vehicles (PEVs) like electric kick-scooters, skateboards, self-balancing scooters, and unicycles. It sets out who can ride them, where they can go, what safety gear is required, and how fast they can travel. It also introduces rules for three-wheeled vehicles and clarifies that automated driving systems can only be used under an approved pilot project or technology testing permit. The bill affects everyday Manitobans who use or own electric scooters and similar devices, as well as people who drive or own three-wheeled vehicles or vehicles with automated driving technology. It also updates registration rules so that all motor vehicles and trailers must be registered and plated, even if they have a special permit exempting them from weight or size requirements. The bill was introduced to modernize Manitoba's traffic laws to keep up with new types of vehicles that have become popular in recent years, while ensuring public safety on roads, sidewalks, and bicycle facilities.
Automatically generated from bill text using Claude
Vibes
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