Toronto TTC winter ban on e-bikes and e-scooters takes effect Sunday

The Toronto Transit Commission's winter ban takes effect on Sunday (November 15): e-bikes and e-scooters may not be brought onto TTC buses, subways or streetcars, or into stations and other TTC facilities, until April 15, 2027. The seasonal ban returns in a record year for lithium-ion battery fires in Toronto. (File photo: a passenger with an electric scooter waiting on a subway platform.)

What the ban covers

Under the TTC's rules, the ban covers all lithium-ion-powered e-bikes and e-scooters, including when the battery has been removed. E-bikes are also barred from bus bike racks. Electric wheelchairs and other mobility devices are not affected, and non-electric bikes and scooters may still be carried.

Why winter is riskier

The TTC says winter temperature swings and road salt can damage lithium-ion batteries: fluctuating temperatures cause condensation and lithium plating, raising the risk of short circuits and fires, and the TTC cannot inspect every battery. The board approved the seasonal ban in December 2024 after an e-bike caught fire on a Line 1 train on December 31, 2023; Toronto Fire Services found the lithium-ion battery had failed.

Battery fires hit a record

Toronto has recorded 124 lithium-ion battery fires so far this year, as of November 5 — a record, up from 29 in all of 2022 and 91 in 2025. The Ontario government is also consulting on changes to the Fire Code that would bar storing and charging e-bikes and e-scooters in residential hallways; the comment period closes on November 16.