Hamilton's bylaw boss is calling for an e-bike strategy as the city spins its wheels trying to keep the speedy vehicles off walking and cycling trails.

But fans of the power-boosted bikes argue common sense should rule the trails, not a ban on the latest two-wheeled technology.

Marty Hazell said the bylaw department is fielding more complaints about the increasingly popular e-bikes, particularly on the waterfront trail and in parks where the motorized vehicles are banned.

Hazell said he'd like council to consider a "citywide strategy" that focuses on education of riders and updating existing bylaws, rather than enforcement. "The problem is it's a tough issue to enforce," he said, noting a pilot enforcement blitz along the Lake Ontario trail last month was in reality an educational campaign.

Bylaw officers can't force riders to produce identification, meaning tickets are unlikely because riders aren't required under provincial law to have a licence, insurance or plates.

Sometimes, bylaw officers don't get the chance to ask, either.

"These things can go up to 32 km/h … If they want to they can just take off on us and leave us in dust."

Hamilton isn't alone in struggling with the implications of the popular, cheap transit alternative.

E-bikes can look like regular bicycles with an electric power pack, or electric scooters that happen to have pedals, and cost as little as $500.

Burlington, which also bans e-bikes on its waterfront trail, set out last spring to update its rules for "emerging vehicles" like e-bikes, mopeds and Segways. But conflicting public feedback has pushed a decision into 2015, said transportation director Bruce Zvaniga.

"The challenge is we want to encourage more cycling and alternative transportation, but we also need to acknowledge the risk that comes with the growing number of these vehicles," he said.

"They can travel quite quickly and some of them weigh up to 200 pounds. If you're a pedestrian and you're struck by one of those, that's a significant collision."

Carol Hughes lives along Hamilton's Lake Ontario multi-use trail and has been bugging the city for e-bike action for more than two years.

The grandmother of three sees e-bike commuters zipping up and down in front of her house each morning and afternoon. She walks her poodle, Teddy, with trepidation and warns her grandchildren not to bicycle without adult eyes along for the ride.

"You can't hear them coming and they come at you fast," Hughes said. "That means you basically spend half your time (on the trail) looking over your shoulder."

That's a courtesy problem, not a technology problem, argued Aaron McMillan, a new e-bike user who just started commuting along the waterfront trail in Burlington.

"For sure you have to be careful. I always go slow on the trail … I know little kids are around," he said. "But regular bikes go fast, too. Do you ban them?"

McMillan admitted he thought the motorized vehicle ban applied to gas-powered vehicles, not hybrid electric bikes that can be pedalled.

"I'd be frustrated if they stopped me using the trail, because I don't feel safe going on the road."

Hughes' ward councillor, Chad Collins, said at a minimum he'd like to see a stepped-up enforcement or an educational campaign along the waterfront during special events. "The biggest problem, from a safety perspective, is when space is at a premium," said Collins, who hopes to pitch the idea next month at council.

Police can enforce municipal bylaws, but provincial law usually treats e-bikes like any other bicycle on the road, said Detective Constable Matt Hewko.

They're welcome in bike lanes or in regular traffic, he said, so long as the rider wears a helmet and doesn't tamper with the built-in speed limiter. Impaired e-bike riders will be charged like any other motor vehicle driver under the Criminal Code of Canada, however.

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Hewko said police would respond to a call for service about dangerous e-bike driving in a park or along a trail, but added he hasn't seen a particular trend in that direction.

Hamilton police track e-bike and regular cycling incidents together, he said — and so far, there have only been about 55 infractions recorded this year.

"This far into the summer, that's pretty good," he said.