Bike class restrictions

[jcanavera]

I'm buying a Class 2 RadCity bike today and am wondering how you handle riding your Class 2 in out of state locales that restrict you to Class 1. For example from what I can see in my locale, local bike paths street riding with a Class 2 bikes is permissible. However while up in Michigan I rode a Pedego bike that had been restricted by the dealer to Class 1 due to what I was told, state law. The twist activation of power assist was functioning, but you could not set it statically). Now the RadCity bike I'm buying has an off/on switch which will turn off the power assist static function (which is the determining factor that a bike is Class 2). If that switch is off, I would be pedal assist only which for all intents means I would be operating like a Class 1 bike.

With all that in mind has anyone know if you are allowed to operate your Class 2 in locales that restrict you to Class 1 bikes if your ability to set the power assist function is turned off? Is there exemptions for out of state owners where Class 2 is permissible?

 

[Tars Tarkas]

So far this hasn't been an issue for me but I think I might turn of the throttle, ride, and assume no one will notice or care as long as I'm not obnoxiously fast and don't run over anyone.

Going off on a tangent, I don't understand Class restrictions. With very few exceptions, there are no class restrictions for cars and trucks on any roads in the US. Itty-bitty electric Smart Cars that look like roller skates are on the same roads with Maseratis, V8 heavy duty Dodge Ram pickups, and 18 wheelers, not to mention motorcycles. Why not do the same with bikes and expect everyone to follow the same rules and speed limits? Why should it matter if your motor is 350 watts or 1200 watts, or whether your bike can do 40 mph or only 20?

I really don't understand why it matters in any way ,shape, form or fashion if you make your bike go with pedals only, pedal-assist, or a twist throttle as long as you ride responsibly.

All that said, I'm not saying you won't get a ticket or a reprimand for riding a certain bike in a place with restrictions that exclude it.

TT

 

[AHicks]

I've ridden many many miles in Florida and Michigan with a throttle and have never gotten a second look. Further, I've never read or heard of anyone else getting any hassle in these 2 states.

 

[jcanavera]

Well I was surprised when the dealer told me it was a state law, and the crazy thing was that the Pedego I rode still had the throttle active if you held it open. Obviously I saw no signs on any path or Mackinac Island regarding e-bikes. With all the bikes I saw on the island, I never saw a single bike sporting a battery pack.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

My own guess is that the class system will be effectively simplified in the coming years.

If you look at sales of class 3 e-bikes in Europe, you will find that they are a tiny part of the market. So I suspect in coming years e-bike makers will stop selling them. If the European companies stop selling them they are unlikely to still manufacture them for the American market, which is a tiny portion of the world e-bike market at any rate.

So if you want a class 3, buy it now.

 

[jim6b]

On the other hand. Sales of ebikes are sky rocketing higher and there will be room for all manner of bikes to fill the niches.

 

[MechaNut]

Functionally the only difference between a class 1 e-bike and a class 2 e-bike is the class 2 e-bike has a throttle. The maximum speed the motor will propel you is 20 mph (In the US, different rules for maximum speed vary by country). Whether under pedal assist or with a throttle the motor caps out at 20 mph. You can obviously go faster than the speed limiter, but that is up to you to pedal hard enough to go that fast or find a steep and long enough downhill.

 

[J.R.]

Working to keep access to local trails and MUP's, I've learned politicians, beurocrats and regulators hate speed pedelecs and throttles. There's a case to be made for class 2 bikes, but class 3 bikes are already banned from these off road paths. The infrastructure doesn't support speed pedelecs and no one wants to pay for speed enforcement. I'd rather pay for more miles of paths.

We are seeing more trails open to class 1 bikes. Here in Pennsylvania we don't have the 3 class law, yet the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources revised it's regulations to specifically allow class 1 ebikes on any trail/path where bicycles are allowed. Even though there is no distinction between class 1 and 2 in the state law.

Because states passed the 3 class law it makes it easy to target and regulate ebikes. Fewer off road paths will allow throttles in the future, is my guess. Class 3 are already banned. At the moment riding safe and sane, you're likely ok.

 

[harryS]

Well I was surprised when the dealer told me it was a state law, and the crazy thing was that the Pedego I rode still had the throttle active if you held it open. Obviously I saw no signs on any path or Mackinac Island regarding e-bikes. With all the bikes I saw on the island, I never saw a single bike sporting a battery pack.

From what I had read in the past, ebikes were banned on Mackinac Island.
http://www.cityofmi.org/index.php?year=2096&month=1

Then I hear there's a Pedego dealer up there. Perhaps a starving dealer?
https://www.pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/mackinac-island/

Last time I was there, when the kids were small, there seemed to be little to do there except buy fudge and ice cream.

 

[AHicks]

From what I had read in the past, ebikes were banned on Mackinac Island.
http://www.cityofmi.org/index.php?year=2096&month=1

Then I hear there's a Pedego dealer up there. Perhaps a starving dealer?
https://www.pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/mackinac-island/

Last time I was there, when the kids were small, there seemed to be little to do there except buy fudge and ice cream.

That's because the natives would prefer to keep you (fudgies) hearded up in the money producing tourist trap areas of the island. If you ignore those attempts, and have something like an electric bike, there's a lot of exploring that's possible!

 

[Dewey]

From what I had read in the past, ebikes were banned on Mackinac Island.
http://www.cityofmi.org/index.php?year=2096&month=1

Then I hear there's a Pedego dealer up there. Perhaps a starving dealer?
https://www.pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/mackinac-island/

It seems Michigan ebike Law was written with a provision banning ebikes from Mackinac Island unless the City passes a law approving ebikes or if a permit is obtained from the Mackinac Island State Park Commission. As there is nothing on the Commission website and the tourism sites mention an ebike ban unless you are disabled I am guessing that body must have some way of issuing a permit to disabled riders possibly for people renting from the Pedego dealer? Perhaps the City passed a law permitting ebikes for residents, and disabled renters, the Pedego dealer would know, and on their website it says “For qualified buyers, we can assist you in getting a proper license for operating your Pedego on the island“. That suggests there is still a ban on ebikes for visitors unless you are disabled and have obtained the required permit.

 

[harryS]

Mackinac Island bans private cars too, but taxi and bus were allowed. Today, they allow Uber/Lyft. I wonder how that goes. Do they come out on the ferry and pick you up?

My nephew did like to go up there and ride a regular bike around the island, but his kids and wife say boo to that.

If faced with a class II ban, I would just remove the grips and slide the throttles off the handlebars on our ebikes for the interim. Best to just get along with the law.

 

[rich c]

“I promise I will never use my throttle officer, see, it’s turned off.” Does that make me legal now? OF COURSE NOT!

 

[Ebiker01]

Well that's too bad because there's no doubt that ebikes will encourage people to get out of their cars and ride bikes. And as we know actually reaching 28mph is kind a bit rare for class 3 bikes as people tend to cruise at 22 or 23mph.

I just don't know why people are trying to regulate ebikes so hard, the spandex warriors on roadbikes can reach 30mph on flat roads, why is ebikes going 20 something mph all the sudden a big threat?

And wouldn't they rather have people riding ebikes than driving cars? How many ebikers killed people? And how many car drivers killed people?

B/c Is a potentially major source of BIG profits from having many regulations imposed on the ebikes and as such creating an additional revenue stream.

Is what exactly is happening in some Eu countries- 25kmh limit with insurance/regulations, max. 250watts.

 

[Ken M]

My opinion on this varies dramatically from almost everyone else on EBR. The federal law (that is the top level definition for bikes and ebikes) defines Class 1 and Class 2 ebikes as the equivalent of a traditional bike that is under CPSC control. The regulation goes on to state that states can regulate usage but can no adopt tighter control of the bike/ebike itself. Anywhere a bike is allowed I believe a Class 1 and Class 2 ebike is allowed (and even Class 3 because there is no assist speed limit when the rider is engaged). Eventually this will be settled in court but I think the federal regulation will have precedence.

 

[elliot friedman]

I'll say it again:

Speed limit not Class limit!

Just as it is with any other vehicle that rides on tera firma.

 

[AHicks]

I'll say it again:

Speed limit not Class limit!

Just as it is with any other vehicle that rides on tera firma.

So you are endorsing 28mph speed limits on a mixed use bike path? That's not going to make a lot of sense to those using that bike path with you. Just like it's not going to make any sense to those commuting back and forth to work if restricted to speeds most would deem responsible on a mixed use path....

I believe the solution most are after is something that will work with a minimum amount of enforcement. NOBODY wants to deal with, or pay for, more enforcement....

It's NOT just like any other vehicle that rides on terra firma!

 

[Bobsiii]

So you are endorsing 28mph speed limits on a mixed use bike path? ....

I believe the solution most are after is something that will work with a minimum amount of enforcement. NOBODY wants to deal with, or pay for, more enforcement

Different speed limits for different places, obviously, just as there are diff limits on diff roads. And how, exactly, do you think they will "enforce" class limits without enforcers paid for by regulating gov?

 

[Tars Tarkas]

Different speed limits for different places, obviously, just as there are diff limits on diff roads. And how, exactly, do you think they will "enforce" class limits without enforcers paid for by regulating gov?

+1!

TT

 

[Tars Tarkas]

Also, I don't understand why anyone would assume everyone is going to go as fast as their Class will let them. Corvettes don't do 160 on the Interstates and neighborhood streets just because they can! Isn't it absurd to think they would?

TT