E-bike laws in New Brunswick

If an e-bike is over the limits

Service New Brunswick says that a vehicle with an electric motor over 500 W that can power it above 32 km/h and has no CMVSS compliance label cannot be registered unless an engineer certifies it is mechanically fit and safe for New Brunswick highways, and that some such vehicles are neither a motor driven cycle nor a bicycle and cannot be used on a highway. An electric motor driven cycle that meets federal safety standards (CMVSS) as a limited-speed motorcycle or scooter can be registered, and its rider must meet all the requirements for motor driven cycle operators.

Source: Motor vehicle registration: "Electric motor driven cycle" section (checked Nov 1, 2026)

Fines and penalties

• Riding without a bicycle helmet (s. 177(3)): the fine is fixed at $21, minimum and maximum. Only riders 16 or older can be charged; a parent or guardian who lets a child under 16 ride without a helmet commits the offence instead (s. 177(4)). Source: Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, ss. 1 ("bicycle", "motor vehicle", "vehicle"), 17.1, 21, 78, 113, 160, 176-181, 191.1, 347 and Schedule A (consolidation shown as current to 1 January 2024) (checked Nov 1, 2026)
• The other bicycle rules (seat and passengers, riding near the right, no riding side by side, using an adjacent bike path, night lamp and reflector, bell, brakes) are Category B offences. For a Category B offence a judge must impose a fine of $140 to $640. Sources: Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, ss. 1 ("bicycle", "motor vehicle", "vehicle"), 17.1, 21, 78, 113, 160, 176-181, 191.1, 347 and Schedule A (consolidation shown as current to 1 January 2024) (checked Nov 1, 2026) ; Provincial Offences Procedure Act, S.N.B. 1987, c. P-22.1, s. 56 (fines by offence category) (checked Nov 1, 2026)

Good to know

• The 500 W / 32 km/h test comes from Service New Brunswick's motor vehicle registration page, not from the Act. The Act defines a bicycle as a device propelled by human power with two tandem wheels and does not mention electric assist. Sources: Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, ss. 1 ("bicycle", "motor vehicle", "vehicle"), 17.1, 21, 78, 113, 160, 176-181, 191.1, 347 and Schedule A (consolidation shown as current to 1 January 2024) (checked Nov 1, 2026) ; Motor vehicle registration: "Electric motor driven cycle" section (checked Nov 1, 2026)
• Service New Brunswick's exact test: the vehicle "can be powered by human force", has a motor "equal to or less than 500W", and the motor "is not capable of assisting" above 32 km/h. The page does not mention pedals, throttles, weight or the number of wheels; the Act's bicycle definition has two wheels in line. Sources: Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, ss. 1 ("bicycle", "motor vehicle", "vehicle"), 17.1, 21, 78, 113, 160, 176-181, 191.1, 347 and Schedule A (consolidation shown as current to 1 January 2024) (checked Nov 1, 2026) ; Motor vehicle registration: "Electric motor driven cycle" section (checked Nov 1, 2026)
• Helmets: every rider on a highway, of any age, must wear a bicycle helmet with the chin strap fastened. It must have a smooth outer shell, absorb impact, be undamaged and meet a listed standard (for example CSA, Snell, ANSI or ASTM) with its mark on the helmet. Sources: Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, ss. 1 ("bicycle", "motor vehicle", "vehicle"), 17.1, 21, 78, 113, 160, 176-181, 191.1, 347 and Schedule A (consolidation shown as current to 1 January 2024) (checked Nov 1, 2026) ; General Regulation, N.B. Reg. 83-42 (Motor Vehicle Act), ss. 46.1-46.2 (bicycle helmets) (checked Nov 1, 2026)
• Required equipment on a bicycle: at night, a white front lamp visible from 150 m and a red rear reflector visible from 100 m (a red rear lamp may be added); a bell or other device audible from 30 m; brakes that can stop and hold the bike. Sirens and whistles are not allowed. Source: Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, ss. 1 ("bicycle", "motor vehicle", "vehicle"), 17.1, 21, 78, 113, 160, 176-181, 191.1, 347 and Schedule A (consolidation shown as current to 1 January 2024) (checked Nov 1, 2026)
• A person riding a bicycle on a roadway has the rights and duties of a vehicle driver under the Act, except where a rule can't apply to a bicycle. Source: Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, ss. 1 ("bicycle", "motor vehicle", "vehicle"), 17.1, 21, 78, 113, 160, 176-181, 191.1, 347 and Schedule A (consolidation shown as current to 1 January 2024) (checked Nov 1, 2026)
• Local governments can make by-laws regulating the operation of bicycles, including requiring bicycles to be registered and licensed for a fee. Check local by-laws for sidewalks, trails, age or licensing rules. Source: Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, ss. 1 ("bicycle", "motor vehicle", "vehicle"), 17.1, 21, 78, 113, 160, 176-181, 191.1, 347 and Schedule A (consolidation shown as current to 1 January 2024) (checked Nov 1, 2026)
• Licence, registration and insurance: the Act's driver's licence rule (s. 78) covers motor vehicles and farm tractors, registration (s. 21) covers motor vehicles, trailers and special mobile equipment, and compulsory insurance (s. 17.1) covers motor vehicles that must be registered. A qualifying e-bike is treated as a bicycle instead. Sources: Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, ss. 1 ("bicycle", "motor vehicle", "vehicle"), 17.1, 21, 78, 113, 160, 176-181, 191.1, 347 and Schedule A (consolidation shown as current to 1 January 2024) (checked Nov 1, 2026) ; Motor vehicle registration: "Electric motor driven cycle" section (checked Nov 1, 2026)

What we couldn’t confirm

We leave a rule blank rather than guess. These points still need an official source:

• The 500 W / 32 km/h limits are Service New Brunswick policy on a web page, not a rule written in the Motor Vehicle Act; the Act has no e-bike definition. How a court would treat an e-bike was not found.
• pedals_required: the policy says "can be powered by human force" and does not mention pedals.
• throttle_allowed: not mentioned in the Act or on the Service New Brunswick page.
• min_age: the Act sets no minimum age for bicycles and has no e-bike rule (the law says nothing); municipal by-laws may add rules.
• max_weight_kg: no weight limit in the Act or the policy (the law says nothing).
• E-bikes with 3 wheels: the Act's bicycle definition has two tandem wheels, and the Service New Brunswick page does not say how e-trikes are treated.
• laws.gnb.ca shows the Act as "current to 1 January 2024"; the 2024-2026 amending acts checked in this run (2024 c.16; 2025 c.6, c.7, c.11, c.47; 2026 c.11, c.13) do not touch bicycles.
• sidewalks: whether the Act's ban on driving a "vehicle" on a sidewalk (s. 191.1) covers e-bikes is not stated; the Act's "vehicle" excludes devices moved by human power, and Service New Brunswick treats a qualifying e-bike as a bicycle. Ask Service New Brunswick or your municipality.