People for Bikes: Progress on Ebike Laws in the US

[jabberwocky]

I have often thought that Class 1 Vs Class 3 e-bikes are a strange way of separating them. I get the throttle/no throttle thing, but shouldn't there be two classes of e-bikes? Throttle vs no throttle, regardless of the cap on the assit level.

I've always thought it was because there are varying restriction requirements for different types of bike infrastructure. Most singletrack-managing agencies and groups aren't going to be kosher with assist above 20 mph and definitely not with throttles, so its nice to have a class that meets that for emtbs. Otherwise they are mainly following the CSPC definitions that say throttles can't assist above 20mph.

All singletrack that is open to ebikes in my area (NoVA) only allows class 1s. Thats if they allow ebikes at all, which many still do not. And almost all emtbs sold by reputable brands are class 1.

For those of you with Class 3 e-bikes, do you often pedal at more than 20 MPH?

I often pedal my class 3 into the 20s. On level or downhill pavement, 20-25mph is easy to cruise at. Up to the cutoff is rare though, if I'm going over 24-25 mph I'm probably going downhill and taking a pedal break.

It would be interesting if we sold cars that way.

Can you imagine a Class 1 car that will only go 40 MPH and a Class 3 car that will go 56 MPH?

I mean, if you're ok with car-style restrictions (licensing/safety requirements/only usable on infrastructure open to motor vehicles) you can absolutely get ebikes with unlimited speed and power caps. You just have to meet the requirements for motorcycles and have insurance and a class M license. Can even have pedals if you want.

The entire ebike definition system is about establishing cutoffs that let ebikes be treated as bikes and use infrastructure that was designed for non-powered vehicles.

 

[Ken M]

@bob armani

HR 727 defines an "low speed electric bike" as same as a bike. There is a federal supremacy clause in the bill that prevents the states from writing a more stringent regulation for ebikes that can be legally sold and ridden just like traditional bikes.

No is the short answer to your question. HR 727 is a consumer law legalizing ebikes to be sold as bicycles and not motorized vehicles in the US. For the purpose you want (if necessary?), you would want state and local laws. That's what determines if your ebike is legal and that you're allowed to ride where you are riding.