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ARTICLE · 27 SEPTEMBER 2021

Blades, Boards & (Non)Automobiles

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As teenagers return to school and students return to campuses, there is inevitably increased traffic on the roadways.

CanadaTransport
Lauren Cullen
Lauren Cullen
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As teenagers return to school and students return to campuses, there is inevitably increased traffic on the roadways. This traffic can include more than just motor vehicles. Other modes of transportation, such as rollerblades and skateboards, also have an increased presence. This may leave drivers and the people utilizing these types of equipment confused about what rules of the road apply to them.

How these types of non-motorized transportation should be treated in Ontario has long been subject to debate. Are they to be classified as "vehicles" or are the people riding them "pedestrians"?

The Highway Traffic Act ("HTA")1 governs conduct on most public roadways in Ontario. Section 1(1) of the HTA  defines a vehicle as follows:

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