The Transport Commissioner says although it’s been one month since the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation announced regulations on electric bicycles, the Licensing Division has received no applications to register any of these bikes.
In an interview with News 19 TT on April 17, 2026, Commissioner Clive Clarke said up until April 16, no one had come forward to register their e-bike. Once the e-bikes are registered, users must also ensure their e-bikes are insured and that they hold a Class 1 driver’s permit.
Clarke said the regulation of the use of e-bikes was necessary to protect all road users.
He said the Licensing Division provides free forms for registration.
News 19 TT understands that since the regulations were implemented, no one has been charged by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service for using an e-bike illegally.
In Part 1- Restricted movement: Inside T&T’s e-bike policy, Venezuelan migrants complained that the regulations mean they can no longer use their e-bikes, as their immigration status prevents them from meeting the requirements for a driver’s permit.
Several local people have also complained about the regulations but for different reasons.
In an interview at his Barataria home, tattoo artist Terrence Lokai told News 19 TT while he does not agree with the regulations wholeheartedly, he believes they can serve some good.
“It’s also a good idea if they doing this in Trinidad in case somebody with an e-bike get in an accident, it covered, or the person you get in an accident with, they covered, or if your bike gets stolen, it’s easier for police to recover your bike,” Lokai said.
He said he paid $3,300 for his e-bike and he believes the bikes can assist those who cannot afford cars.
“I think that e-bikes are a good thing to help out poor people, to go to work, to go to the grocery and not be sweaty and tired, and save time and save money on transport, because transportation is high.
“It is also very good for elderly people who might not be so energetic as younger people, when they have to go to pay bills, or go in the grocery.”
Lokai said when the regulations were announced, he went to the Licensing office’s Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, office to try to register his bike.
“I went Licensing office on Wrightson Road, and they said they didn’t start registering e-bikes yet, they didn’t get any paperwork for that yet. I also called sometime after to see if they started yet and they said they didn’t start registering bikes as yet.”
He said he was also told he could continue to use his e-bike until the registration process begins.
With this information, he and several others went out riding.
But an encounter with police on that day left him confused.
He believes both agencies need to communicate better.
“The licensing office said you can ride your bike and they were saying these bikes with the pedals, they not registering them, this type I have is one of the e-bikes with the pedals, and so we went back on the road and the police stop some of us again, so we tell them we went licensing office and licensing officers said ‘Go ahead and ride your bike.’
“I think is some kind of communication issue between licensing office and the police.”
Lokai said he has since stopped using his e-bike, as he does not want to risk being charged.
He said he already has a Class 1 driver’s permit and he wants to comply with the law and make use of his $3,300 investment.
He is calling on authorities to provide clear instructions and a timeline for the registration process.
“I think some decision have to be made to free up e-bikes soon, you just can’t have people park up their bicycle and not have it in use.”
It remains to be seen if more information will be provided to e-bike owners for the registration process.