09/09/2026
๐ฒ๐ด ๐-๐๐๐๐ & ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ โ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ช ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐๐!
E-Bikes and electric scooters are becoming more common in our community. Whether you're riding one yourself or you're a parent purchasing one for your child, it's important to know exactly what you're riding, where you can ride it, and what the law requires.
The Barnesville Police Department wants everyone to ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐. ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ. ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ.
๐จ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ง โ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ช ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐ค๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ก ๐-๐๐๐๐
Under Ohio law, an electric bicycle must have fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts.
There are three classes:
๐น๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ญ โ Pedal-assist only; assistance stops at 20 MPH.
๐น๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ฎ โ Throttle or pedal-assist; assistance stops at 20 MPH.
๐น๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ฏ โ Pedal-assist only; assistance stops at 28 MPH.
โ ๏ธ ๐ก๐ข ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ = ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐๐ก ๐ข๐๐๐ข ๐-๐๐๐๐.
A device that looks like an E-Bike but does not have fully operable pedals may not be treated as an E-Bike under Ohio law. Don't assume that because a device is sold as an "E-Bike" that it can legally be operated anywhere an E-Bike can.
๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ฏ
You must be at least 16 years old to operate a Class 3 E-Bike. Ohio law prohibits anyone under 16 from operating a Class 3 E-Bike. Also, anyone operating or riding as a passenger on a Class 3 E-Bike must wear a protective helmet that meets the applicable safety standards.
๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ช๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ โ ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ก๐ง!
One of the most important things for Barnesville riders to understand is the difference between riding an E-Bike on a sidewalk and operating the motor while on the sidewalk.
Under Ohio Revised Code 4511.711 and Village of Barnesville Ordinance 331.37: An E-Bike may be ridden on a sidewalk ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ, subject to applicable laws and local regulations.
๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฅ ๐ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐.
Do not use the motor while riding your E-Bike on the sidewalk.
And remember:
๐ซ ๐ก๐ข ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ? ๐ก๐ข ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ก ๐-๐๐๐๐.
If your device doesn't have fully operable pedals, don't assume the sidewalk rule for E-Bikes applies to it. Ohio law specifically states that a vehicle may not be driven on a sidewalk except for a bicycle or electric bicycle when the motor is not engaged, with specific exceptions, including law enforcement officers performing their duties.
๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ช ๐ช๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ'๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก๐
Different types of E-Bikes and electric devices can have different rules for:
โข Sidewalks
โข Roadways
โข Bike lanes
โข Shared-use paths
โข Parks and trails
โข Natural-surface trails
๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐, ๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐๐น๐ฒ๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ผ ๐น๐ฎ๐.
Class 1 and Class 2 E-Bikes generally have broader access to bicycle and shared-use paths, while Class 3 E-Bikes have additional restrictions unless the path is authorized for Class 3 use. Natural-surface trails and other paths intended primarily for hiking, equestrian use, mountain biking, or similar activities also have additional restrictions.
๐ด ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฆ?
Electric scooters and other low-speed micromobility devices are not the same thing as E-Bikes. Ohio law defines a low-speed micromobility device as a device weighing less than 100 pounds, with handlebars, propelled by an electric motor or human power, and capable of no more than 20 MPH by electric motor on a paved level surface. These devices have their own rules and can also be subject to local regulations.
๐๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐.
๐ช ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ง
Regardless of what you're riding:
โ
๐ช๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐บ๐ฒ๐.
โ
Use a white front light and red rear reflectors when riding at night.
โ
Stay alert and don't ride distracted.
โ
Don't use earbuds or headphones while riding.
โ
Never ride under the influence.
โ
Obey stop signs, traffic signals and other signs.
โ
Use proper hand signals.
โ
Yield to pedestrians.
โ
Make eye contact and be predictable.
โ
Look before turning or crossing.
โ
Share the road and give at least 3 feet when passing when applicable.
โ
Make sure your E-Bike or scooter is in safe operating condition.
โ ๏ธ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ง๐ฆ โ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐'๐ฆ ๐-๐๐๐๐ & ๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ก ๐ข๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก
Before allowing your child to ride, know:
๐ What class is it?
๐ How powerful is the motor?
๐ Does it have fully operable pedals?
๐ What is its maximum assisted speed?
๐ How old must the rider be?
๐ Where can it legally be ridden?
A device that looks like an E-Bike may actually fall into a different category under Ohio law. Don't rely solely on what the manufacturer or retailer calls it. Know the specifications and know the law.
๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ญ.๐ฏ๐ณ -
๐๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ฃ๐ข๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ช๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ช๐ก๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ
Barnesville Ordinance 331.37 provides, in part, that a person may not drive a vehicle on a sidewalk or sidewalk area, other than a bicycle or an electric bicycle if the ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ, except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway.
The ordinance also prohibits driving a vehicle on a street lawn area or curb except where legally authorized. Violations can carry misdemeanor penalties, with increased penalties for certain repeat traffic offenses. Additional fines may apply when distracted activity contributes to the violation. ORC 4511.711 also applies.
๐ฒ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ก๐
โ
KNOW YOUR E-BIKE.
โ
KNOW THE CLASS.
โ
KNOW THE AGE REQUIREMENTS.
โ
KNOW WHERE YOU CAN RIDE.
โ
KEEP THE MOTOR DISENGAGED ON THE SIDEWALK.
โ
NO PEDALS = NOT AN E-BIKE.
โ
โ
โ
AND ALWAYS RIDE RESPONSIBLY.
We want everyone to enjoy these devices while helping keep riders, pedestrians, drivers and our entire community safe.
๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
We've created a dedicated E-Bike & Electric Scooter Safety page with information about E-Bike classifications, Ohio law, Barnesville Ordinance 331.37, sidewalk rules, safety tips, and more.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ: www.BarnesvilleOhio.com/ebikes
๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐. ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ. ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ.
