The EU Court of Justice yesterday ruled that e-bikes are actually bikes, not motorbikes, which means e-cyclists aren’t obligated to be insured in the same way as motorists.
Start by printing this and keeping it with you. Then dig around until you can find the specific federal regulation and regulations pertinent to your state, print those out, too.
I used to do motorized bicycles, got pulled over with a friend once. Cop was all “You have to have registration and insurance and and and.” I said, “Wait, I have the Illinois law on my phone here, this went into effect Jan 1 this year [I forget now what year that was].” Cop took the info back to his car for a few minutes (in the meantime, I was putting my chain back on, it had fallen off). He comes back and says, “I learned something new today. Be safe.”
Told him we had our route planned out to avoid the high traffic roads already, that we always followed the rules of the road for cars and bicycles. I’m sure it didn’t hurt that we were both wearing full face helmets and armored jackets.
One cop literally drove onto the sidewalk so his car was half on the sidewalk and half on the road to cut me off and started screaming at me about CCs and horsepower.
When I explained it was an electric bike, he seemed very confused and then repeated the 50cc maximum and drove away.
Make sure you actually print these to paper. I’d done that, but didn’t have them with me on my encounter. I would not do this today, but on that day so many years ago, I let the cop take my phone back to his car with him.
Cops are very frequently ignorant of the actual law:
Class 1 ebikes:
These ebikes are limited to a maximum speed of 20 mph and are designed to operate solely on pedal assist. They do not have a throttle for motor power.
Class 2 ebikes:
Similar to Class 1, these ebikes also have a maximum speed of 20 mph. However, they are equipped with a throttle in addition to pedal assist, allowing the motor to operate without pedaling.
Class 3 ebikes:
These ebikes are restricted to pedal-assist like Class 1 but can reach a higher maximum assisted speed of 28 mph.
The above are not motor vehicles in any state. If a cop challenges you on it, you can try to explain and encourage them to look it up but if you get ticketed it won’t stand up in court. Feel free to talk to a lawyer in your area to confirm of course, don’t take legal advice from strangers on the Internet: Verify information for yourself.
Actually it’s for the exact reason the other commenter mentioned, mine is almost 200 lb with larger tires, and I like to cruise, so I’ll take it through Zion or out through the mountain roads around Denver, but I feel a bit clunky and overbearing taking up the smaller trails through forests and hills.
A “no motor vehicles” sign would not prohibit e-bikes. However, I see no reason why a trail couldn’t enforce prohibition of a list of categories that includes both motor vehicles and e-bikes as separate items.
The federal law applies to the public roads. Trails are NOT public roads. They can have any restrictions their management wants. Just like private roads at supermarkets - they’re not public roads and supermarket can say no Ford cars here and you have no recourse there.
They aren’t private usually, they’re public, but maintained by volunteers.
I helped maintain a trail for a couple years back when ebikes were just starting to be a thing, and they absolutely tore up trails. We had to put up additional signs (from the very limited budget) just for ebikes.
Nice. Get with it, US
Ebikes are already legally considered bicycles and not motor vehicles in the US: It’s a federal regulation so it applies to every state.
Oh what? Well, I’ll say that cops in multiple states here are unaware.
That’s good to know though, I’m a bit gunshy about taking the trails with no motor vehicle signs.
Start by printing this and keeping it with you. Then dig around until you can find the specific federal regulation and regulations pertinent to your state, print those out, too.
I used to do motorized bicycles, got pulled over with a friend once. Cop was all “You have to have registration and insurance and and and.” I said, “Wait, I have the Illinois law on my phone here, this went into effect Jan 1 this year [I forget now what year that was].” Cop took the info back to his car for a few minutes (in the meantime, I was putting my chain back on, it had fallen off). He comes back and says, “I learned something new today. Be safe.”
Told him we had our route planned out to avoid the high traffic roads already, that we always followed the rules of the road for cars and bicycles. I’m sure it didn’t hurt that we were both wearing full face helmets and armored jackets.
Rad. Thanks.
One cop literally drove onto the sidewalk so his car was half on the sidewalk and half on the road to cut me off and started screaming at me about CCs and horsepower.
When I explained it was an electric bike, he seemed very confused and then repeated the 50cc maximum and drove away.
Make sure you actually print these to paper. I’d done that, but didn’t have them with me on my encounter. I would not do this today, but on that day so many years ago, I let the cop take my phone back to his car with him.
Print them to paper.
Okay that’s a good point.
I was just going to use my phone because I didn’t even think of that.
Cops are very frequently ignorant of the actual law:
These ebikes are limited to a maximum speed of 20 mph and are designed to operate solely on pedal assist. They do not have a throttle for motor power.
Similar to Class 1, these ebikes also have a maximum speed of 20 mph. However, they are equipped with a throttle in addition to pedal assist, allowing the motor to operate without pedaling.
These ebikes are restricted to pedal-assist like Class 1 but can reach a higher maximum assisted speed of 28 mph.
The above are not motor vehicles in any state. If a cop challenges you on it, you can try to explain and encourage them to look it up but if you get ticketed it won’t stand up in court. Feel free to talk to a lawyer in your area to confirm of course, don’t take legal advice from strangers on the Internet: Verify information for yourself.
What? Why wouldn’t you ride ebikes on bike trails? That’s the whole reason I bought one lol
Actually it’s for the exact reason the other commenter mentioned, mine is almost 200 lb with larger tires, and I like to cruise, so I’ll take it through Zion or out through the mountain roads around Denver, but I feel a bit clunky and overbearing taking up the smaller trails through forests and hills.
Thats because the added weight and power tears up trails, and the stewards hate that shit.
But that’s not actually enforceable?
According to federal law, I mean?
I’m guessing each state and county can make their own laws
A “no motor vehicles” sign would not prohibit e-bikes. However, I see no reason why a trail couldn’t enforce prohibition of a list of categories that includes both motor vehicles and e-bikes as separate items.
Why not? An electric motor is, by definition, a motor.
Legal definitions aren’t the same as dictionary definitions.
The federal law applies to the public roads. Trails are NOT public roads. They can have any restrictions their management wants. Just like private roads at supermarkets - they’re not public roads and supermarket can say no Ford cars here and you have no recourse there.
By not public, trails are private because they belong to the state, you mean?
They aren’t private usually, they’re public, but maintained by volunteers.
I helped maintain a trail for a couple years back when ebikes were just starting to be a thing, and they absolutely tore up trails. We had to put up additional signs (from the very limited budget) just for ebikes.
Ah, got it. I don’t go on tiny trails or dirtbiking trails.
Pretty much all hardpack or paved.
They’re not public roads. That’s the difference.
What aren’t, specifically, and what is the difference of what?
What are you talking about? The EU were playing catch-up to us on this one.
Past run-ins with cops who apparently knew about the same as I did about this federal law.
It’s in all the other comments.