People for Bikes: Progress on Ebike Laws in the US

[Gionnirocket]

Regardless of what you ride, you won't be treated like an idiot if you don't act like one.

What he said!
My bike is totally illegal. While riding I often speak with NYPD, State Park Rangers, Local PD, County Police, County Rangers and County officials as you will see them at various times on the MUPS and in the local parks and I've never had a negative encounter.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Our Gazelle Ultimate C380+ are Class 3 bikes. If someone were to ask, if I told them they are Class 1 and never rode over 20 MPH, most people would never know the difference.

I wouldn't count on the rangers being so naive in parks that explicitly ban Class 3 ebikes in certain areas.

 

[6zfshdb]

Most National and State parks rely on attendance to justify their existence. The rangers jobs are often dependent on the number of people who visit these parks. I have yet to see rangers actively checking for illegal bikes. They want to see attendance and if you don't stand out in the crowd, it is likely you won't be bothered.

County and municipal parks, MUPs and roads are a different story. Local police and county employees are mostly responsible for enforcing regulations. They have no skin in the game and are more likely to issue a summons or ask you to leave if they see violations.

 

[Biplaneguy]

Connecticut (which allows class 1, 2, & 3) just updated its ebike laws for 2025. Some age related changes (helmets and min 16 for class 3), requiring class stickers, and some other interesting things, like trying to get a handle on modified bikes:

20 (b) No person shall modify an electric bicycle to change the motor-
21 powered speed capability or motor engagement in such a way that the
22 electric bicycle (1) no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle,
23 as defined in section 14-1, as amended by this act, unless such person
24 removes the label affixed in accordance with subsection (a) of this
25 section, or (2) no longer meets the classification of such electric bicycle
26 as indicated on the label affixed in accordance with subsection (a) of this
27 section, unless such person replaces such label with a new label that
28 accounts for the modification and contains the current classification,
29 maximum speed and motor wattage of the electric bicycle

And some odd restrictions on where you can ride:

83 (b) Except as provided in this section or where prohibited by local
84 ordinance, an electric bicycle may be ridden where bicycles are
85 permitted to travel.
86 (c) A class 3 electric bicycle shall not be ridden on a bicycle trail or
87 path or multiuse trail or path.
88 (d) Except where permitted by local ordinance, a [class 1 or] class 2
89 electric bicycle shall not be ridden on a bicycle trail or path or multiuse
90 trail or path designated for nonmotorized traffic if such trail or path has
91 a natural surface tread made by clearing and grading the soil and no
92 surfacing materials have been added.

They also added a definition of "motor driven cycle" above class 3 but under 3700W / 5HP.

 

[Chargeride]

Now theyre enforcing the surface of the road you can ride on.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

Interesting times.

 

[Jim1348]

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.

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

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

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 don't get it, either — especially since coastal SoCal is loaded with ebikes that would have been Class 3 if they hadn't come with a throttle. Bottom line: Many manufacturers are ignoring the classification scheme, not just Surron and Super73.

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

Ride my low-power Class 3 Vado SL 1 over 20 mph on the flats now and then, especially with a good tailwind. Have yet to get it above ~26 mph without the help of a big downhill.

 

[Jim1348]

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?

 

[stompandgo]

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.

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

Yes

 

[Biplaneguy]

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.

OTOH, what difference does it make to public safety whether the speed is reached via ghost or throttle?

I generally only use the throttle to start from a dead stop (especially uphill) or for a brief rest.

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

Often enough. Just cruising on level ground I'm probably around 20-23, but definitely faster downhill. And on one level ride I sometimes take there's about a mile of very dicey road (no shoulders and idiot drivers/motorcyclists on the published "scenic route") that I want to get through as fast as possible for my own safety so I'll pedal right up to 28 mph. This despite the fact that in NY State class 3 isn't allowed (except in NYC) and ebikes aren't even allowed on roads posted over 30 mph (this one is posted 40, but the idiot crotch rocket riders are doing 80 or more, passing on blind turns, etc.).

My Radster can be set to class 1, 2, or 3. In class 3 the throttle still works but cuts out at 20, but PAS goes up to 28. I don't know if that's quite legal for class 3 (where class 3 is allowed) but it's how it works.

 

[kevinmccune]

I don't get it, either — especially since coastal SoCal is loaded with ebikes that would have been Class 3 if they hadn't come with a throttle. Bottom line: Many manufacturers are ignoring the classification scheme, not just Surron and Super73.


Ride my low-power Class 3 Vado SL 1 over 20 mph on the flats now and then, especially with a good tailwind. Have yet to get it above ~26 mph without the help of a big downhill.

ah,vados-got some new "Vado" type tablets have yet to get any higher.my preferred cadence is 12 mph( keeps me away from "she who must be obeyed "longer!)

 

[harryS]

In the end, it's the local laws that matter. A lot of the suburbs around me are putting age restrictions on scooters and ebikes.

I see a lot of children getting around on e-scooters on sidewalks and sometimes our streets. I have nothing against that. It's better than having their parents ferry them at 35-30 mph down our 25 mph streets,

 

[stompandgo]

In the end, it's the local laws that matter. A lot of the suburbs around me are putting age restrictions on scooters and ebikes.

I see a lot of children getting around on e-scooters on sidewalks and sometimes our streets. I have nothing against that. It's better than having their parents ferry them at 35-30 mph down our 25 mph streets,

I was visiting my home town in CT at school dismissal time, sitting in pick up traffic. One kid blew by me on the yellow line at 25+, while another kid was burning down the sidewalk at 29+. I met him at a cross street where he blew the stop down without looking at 35+.

Parents may think their little darling can handle an ebike but they know how to de-restrict them and have no fear of dying.

 

[tomjasz]

MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS

 

[stompandgo]

I cited two instances where a child could have been killed by riding an e-bike in a dangerous manner. They made it my bizness..

 

[Catalyzt]

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.

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

Oh, hell yeah. (When I was healthy. I'll be off the bike for at least another couple of weeks, probably, maybe longer.)

For whatever reason, my Class III seems to cut out at just over 29 MPH, (could be GPS error, as Stomp and a few others pointed out) so there are flat (as far as I can tell) stretches of a block or so where it's not crazy hard to maintain 30 MPH adding my own muscle power to the mix. Lightweight, aerodynamic bike.

Same reason as many others: To keep up with traffic. Oh, maybe I enjoy it as well. Just a little.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I was visiting my home town in CT at school dismissal time, sitting in pick up traffic. One kid blew by me on the yellow line at 25+, while another kid was burning down the sidewalk at 29+. I met him at a cross street where he blew the stop down without looking at 35+.

Parents may think their little darling can handle an ebike but they know how to de-restrict them and have no fear of dying.

I've seen far too many similar cases in Carlsbad, CA and vicinty over the last 3 years. Most kids here ride pretty responsibly. But the reckless ones on fast ebikes and e-motorcycles — nearly all males — are menaces to themselves and everyone nearby.

They also tear up parks, trails, and private property with their incessant donuts and rooster tails. Two young teens in our neighborhood got Surrons last Christmas and promptly tore up our expensive greenbelt.

Imagine a driver seriously injuring or killing one through no fault of their own. The driver and parents would carry that for the rest of their lives.

Carlsbad requires some young riders to pass an ebike safety course and carry the certificate. And Carlsbad schools require the certificates to grant campus parking permits for all ebikes.

In addition, city police are actively confiscating Surrons and other e-motorcycles driven on public streets without valid drivers licenses, registrations, and insurance cards. That puts all riders under 16 at risk of losing the illegal rides their parents should never have bought them in the first place.

These concerted efforts aren't perfect, but they've have had a positive impact on young rider behavior here and sure beat doing nothing. Adjacent Encinitas has adopted similar measures.

 

[kevinmccune]

I wouldn't count on the rangers being so naive in parks that explicitly ban Class 3 ebikes in certain areas.

yep have actually been stopped by VDOT officials who had a knowledge of what they were trying to ticket.

 

[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.