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Different examples of Motor Assisted Cycles |
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A MAC is a two-or three- wheeled cycle with a seat, pedals and an electric motor that is 500 watts or less. MACs cannot be gas-powered.
MACs can range widely in appearance: from a bicycle with a small-sized motor to a scooter with bike pedals.
Because of their appearance, some MACs can be easily confused with other types of motorized, two-wheeled vehicles, such as low-powered motorcycles or scooters.
It’s important to know for sure whether you are operating a MAC. That’s because MACs have unique licensing, insurance and operating requirements.
To ride a MAC, you must:
However, MAC riders are not required to:
On the road, an operator of a MAC has many of the same rights and duties as an operator of a motor vehicle. As well, a MAC operator has additional responsibilities to ride in accordance with bicycle safety rules of the road. For example, a rider:
For more rules of the road, please refer to Section 183 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act’s “Rights and duties of operator of cycle”.
In order to qualify as a MAC, certain conditions must be met. For example:
Some MACs look similar to low-powered motorcycles and scooters.
Provincial regulations classify low-powered motorcycles and scooters as Limited Speed Motorcycles (LSMs).
While a MAC and an LSM may look similar, these vehicles have very different licensing, insurance and operating requirements.
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| Description | MACs are cycles that combine the pedal power of bicycles with the power assistance of an electric motor. | LSMs are low-powered motorcycles or scooters. LSMs rely on motor power and are generally not equipped with bicycle-style pedals |
| Propulsion | Electric
motor under 500 watts AND Bicycle-style pedals for manual propulsion |
50 cc or
less OR Electric motor under 1,500 watts |
| Maximum speed | 32 km/h on level ground without pedalling | 70 km/h on level ground. |
| Vehicle registration, licensing and insurance | None required | An LSM must be registered, licensed and insured as a motor vehicle |
| Driver requirements | No driver’s
licence is required Operator must be at least 16 years of age |
Operator must have a driver’s licence of any class (i.e. doesn’t have to be a motorcycle licence) |
| Helmet requirements | Must wear a bicycle helmet | Must wear a motorcycle helmet |
| Rules of the road | Subject
to the same rights and duties of a motor vehicle, such as obeying
all traffic lights and control devices.
As well, an operator of a MAC should adhere to bicycle safety rules,
such as riding as close as practicable to the right hand sand of
the road and using hand signals in advance of any turn or stop. |
Subject to the same rights and duties of a motor vehicle, such as obeying all traffic lights and control devices. |
| Labels | As a condition of initial sale, all commercially manufactured MACs must bear a permanently affixed label stating that the vehicle is a “power-assisted bicycle”. | As a condition of initial sale, all commercially manufactured LSMs must bear a permanently affixed compliance label. On this, or on another separate label, a statement must appear that the use of the vehicle may be restricted by provincial authorities to certain roads. |
