10/23/2026
🚲 E-BIKES, E-SCOOTERS & THE RULES OF THE ROAD 🛴
Yep, this one's a read, but worth the two minutes.
🚸 Parents, teens, and anyone who thinks two wheels automatically mean two thumbs up: let’s talk e-bikes and e-scooters.
They’re fun, convenient, and capable of moving a whole lot faster than your average bicycle. But with extra speed comes extra responsibility.
FIRST, KNOW YOUR E-BIKE CLASS 📚
👉🏼 Class 1: Pedal-assist only. The motor helps while you pedal and stops assisting at 20 mph. No throttle.
👉🏼 Class 2: Pedal-assist or throttle-powered. The motor stops assisting at 20 mph.
👉🏼 Class 3: Pedal-assist only. The motor stops assisting at 28 mph. No throttle.
👉🏼 If your ride doesn’t meet the requirements for a Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike, don’t assume you can legally ride it on public streets. Modified or higher-powered bikes may fall under different laws.
THE ROAD RULES STILL APPLY 🚔
Your e-bike or e-scooter doesn’t come with a special exemption from traffic laws.
✅ Ride as far right as practicable or use an available bike lane. You don’t have to ride on an unsafe shoulder, and you may use the traffic lane when safety requires it.
✅ Signal your turns. Other road users can’t read minds.
✅ Follow traffic signs, signals, and speed limits.
✅ Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
✅ Use a white front light visible from at least 500 feet and a red rear reflector visible from 600 feet under the conditions required by law.
✅ Don’t carry more people than your bike or scooter was designed to accommodate.
✅ Don’t hold onto a moving vehicle or ride more than two abreast on the roadway unless the roadway permits it.
✅ If an officer signals you to stop, pull over safely and stop. Riding away can turn a traffic stop into a much bigger problem.
📣 PARENTS, HERE’S YOUR REMINDER
🚫 Class 3 e-bikes cannot be operated by anyone under 16.
⛑️ Riders under 18 must wear a protective helmet.
🏍️ Don’t modify an e-bike to increase its speed capability.
☀️ Talk with your kids about safe riding.
🧑🧑🧒🧒 Be responsible for your children and their actions. Accountability matters.
🇺🇸 Injuries around the country are on the increase.
THE BOTTOM LINE: More speed means less room for mistakes. Know your ride, know the rules, wear the gear, and make it home safely. Remember, no pedals means no bicycle classification, as it is considered an e-moto.
If this doesn't answer all your questions, we encourage you to do further research. If there's still confusion, don't hesitate to call our nonemergency number and speak with an officer directly.