Trip to Canada

[seand1109]

Coming up from the states with a RadRover6 Plus... If I stay under 32kph/20/mph, will I be ok with my American spec bike? Is it an issue?

[John Rose]

Probably not an issue. It might depend on where you're going, like if people in the area have recently been complaining about wild-eyed youths hopped-up on goofballs, screaming along multi-use paths on Surrons and the like.


In my area, a little town of 6,099 souls surrounded by farms, I've never heard of anybody's ebike being checked for Class 2 compliance.

But if you got involved in an accident and attention is then directed to the ebike, it might get dicey. I really have no idea.

[seand1109]

Thanks Ya, no one plans on an accident... they just happen. I will be cruising around Vancouver, planning to take my time and really don't think anyone will hassle me but gotta ask. Say, are those bikes in your post all Red Green inventions? 

[Naranja_CT5+]

I have taken a regular bike to Blaine,WA before and it's quite an enjoyable ride. A family member has a trailer there. I normally take the truck crossing because it's less busy.

Thinking out loud since your US bike are 750W. There is a possibility that a person can cross the border and sell it to the Canadians. Therefore the border services may require a proof that you leave Canada with all your equipment.

Word of warning. The George Massey tunnel does not allow cyclists but there is a shuttle that could take across. Check their schedules.

Richmond and Surrey are two places where you can cheat and take the LRT (Skytrain) all the way to downtown Vancouver.

I would suggest downloading Lower Mainland's bike paths.

[seand1109]

I suspect it won't be a problem, traveling up with an RV and will be using it till my wife gets that with the car. Thanks

[John Rose]

... Therefore the border services may require a proof that you leave Canada with all your equipment. ...

Whose border services? At what point would the Canadians have the opportunity to check that you took it back out when you left Canada? Is there some sort of shared database in which the US border service checks off that you brought the bike back in?
Even so, I don't think Canadian border service would care what you left Canada with, and I didn't think they would even stop you on the way out. (It's been a decades since I've crossed the border.)

It gets confusing when they talk about "importing" stuff, as if you were planning to buy it from outside Canada and keep it in Canada permanently. The most important thing may be not so much importing, but operating it in Canada. For instance, you may not import used mattresses into Canada, but clearly you are allowed to own and use them in Canada.

Have a look at Appendix C in https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d19/d19-12-1-eng.html , maybe there are some hints there. They talk about "Temporary Vehicle Imports", but they don't say much about actually operating them in Canada.

Vehicles may be admitted into Canada without having to comply with TC's import requirements when used exclusively by a person entering Canada as a visitor for a period not exceeding 12 months, or temporary residents such as students studying at a learning institution for the duration of their studies in Canada, or individuals with valid work permits/authorizations for employment for a period not exceeding 36 months.

TLDR. Exactly which of "[Transport Canada's] import requirements" they mean, I have no clue.

I'd phone ahead to somebody official in the province you plan to visit (because each province has slightly different regulations for ebikes), to get chapter & verse, and don't accept an answer with the word "probably" in it.

[Naranja_CT5+]

traveling up with an RV

Hahaha my bad. I assumed you are crossing the border on your eBike. Please ignore the rest of my comments.

[seand1109]

My bad for not giving more details. thanks for the input

[seand1109]

"It gets confusing when they talk about "importing" stuff, as if you were planning to buy it from outside Canada and keep it in Canada permanently. The most important thing may be not so much importing, but operating it in Canada. For instance, you may not import used mattresses into Canada, but clearly you are allowed to own and use them in Canada."

I like this analogy, it trull fits the situation. I will use if needed but I am beginning to think I won't need to given the quote you sent

"Vehicles may be admitted into Canada without having to comply with TC's import requirements when used exclusively by a person entering Canada as a visitor for a period not exceeding 12 months" which I won't be doing, only a week.

I only asked because we frequently cross for vacations. Last trip I was quizzed by the Canadian Border patrol about firearms... Questions that would mean they had looked me up in US records. Not the normal do you have any ammo or firearms on board, but what was the last time you carried concealed. When was the last time I went to the range, and it wasn't a friendly interaction. I guessed I answered correctly because I passed thru.

We love Canada and I think they must love us, at least in the restaurant businesses because we eat out majority of the time, leftover the rest.

[seand1109]

I am back with an update... not a single question at the border about the bikes on the back and no one cared. the bike trails around Vancouver were great. I highly recommend traveling thru the city, downtown, on e-bike just because you will beat the traffic and won't spend money on parking.

[John Rose]

I am back with an update... not a single question at the border about the bikes on the back and no one cared. ...

Well, glad to hear that you had a good experience.

[JimInPT]

Not a fan of talking beavers; it's always surprising and off-putting.

[jimu]

You could run into a problem using them in national parks.

[seand1109]

Not a fan of talking beavers; it's always surprising and off-putting.

I'm quite the fan of talking beavers... especially when they are friendly.

[seand1109]

You could run into a problem using them in national parks.

I have heard that... just not experienced it as we tend to travel in the towns and cities.