Class 3 restrictions - California

[GGinMP]

I've started looking for an e-bike to ride around town and on scenic rides. I've found a couple Class 3 bikes that are appealing in different price ranges, but I'm concerned about restrictions in California for certain bike paths along the coast. I'm not talking about mountain bike-type trails, but rather coastal trails such as found along beach areas (Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, for example). If one isn't speeding, is a Class 3 bike still a no-no?

 

[WattsUpDude]

I’ve never been on a trail or MUP that specifically restricted any bike by class. I’ve seen many 15MPH signs that all bikes must observe.

 

[rich c]

I posted recently that on my usual urban ride, the only difference between my class 1 and class 3 was more calories burned. The times and speeds were nearly identical over 10miles. You should also be aware that it takes a lot of watts to maintain 28mph. I rarely get above 22 mph on my class 3.

 

[GGinMP]

I posted recently that on my usual urban ride, the only difference between my class 1 and class 3 was more calories burned. The times and speeds were nearly identical over 10miles. You should also be aware that it takes a lot of watts to maintain 28mph. I rarely get above 22 mph on my class 3.

Makes sense, and I think Class 1 would be fine most of the time but it would be nice to have the option of higher speeds if/when desired. It does seem that most of the bikes I really like (high on my list is the Specialized Turbo Vado; @ a lower price point, the Aventon Level) come as Class 3; sticking to Class 1 seems to significantly limit options.

 

[Bicyclista]

I've started looking for an e-bike to ride around town and on scenic rides. I've found a couple Class 3 bikes that are appealing in different price ranges, but I'm concerned about restrictions in California for certain bike paths along the coast. I'm not talking about mountain bike-type trails, but rather coastal trails such as found along beach areas (Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, for example). If one isn't speeding, is a Class 3 bike still a no-no?

I have ridden my Class 3 Yuba Spicy Curry AT cargo ebike on coastal trails, city streets, Pacific Coast Highway, UCSD campus, etc., between Solana Beach and the Mexican border many times. I have passed police, park rangers, and border patrols. None have stopped me.

 

[rich c]

Makes sense, and I think Class 1 would be fine most of the time but it would be nice to have the option of higher speeds if/when desired. It does seem that most of the bikes I really like (high on my list is the Specialized Turbo Vado; @ a lower price point, the Aventon Level) come as Class 3; sticking to Class 1 seems to significantly limit options.

Please take the time to ride both before buying. You'd be shocked how similar they ride. Like I said, there are few positives to the casual rider to put in the heavy human and battery energy to go a few mile per hour more. But I understand your thinking as an incredibly high number of eBike riders crave more speed. Many are on the constant search to ride 40mph too. At the higher speeds you must really concentrate. It's not the enjoy nature sights, sounds, and smells of nature that I enjoy. It's a whole new world traveling around below 20mph.

 

[JenniferA]

I ride a class 3 Specialized Creo and I ride on California coastal trails and bike paths, but I wasn’t sure whether class 3 is actually allowed in the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation trail, so I did some research. At least on the portion of the trail that goes through Monterey and Pacific Grove, class 3 bikes are not allowed. However, Monterey does not enforce a particular speed limit while Pacific Grove has a 12 mph speed limit. In practice, I have never seen enforcement of any kind on this trail, though I can tell you that on many sections of the trail (near Fisherman’s Wharf, the aquarium, and Lover’s Point) even 12 mph is way too fast due to the large number of pedestrians. I always ride without pedal assist in those sections, and I have never ridden over 20 mph on any portion of the trail. Ever.

I love my Creo but sometimes I wish I had a class 1 for the bike paths.

 

[chunk]

Yeah, same in Southern California, I just ride with common sense and respect and I've never been questioned by any authority. If I come up behind someone, if it seems appropriate, I slow way down and say "behind, behind".