State E-Bike �Traffic Safety Landscape

Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety

April 19, 2026

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES

State E-Bike Three Class System

(1) “Electric bicycle” shall mean a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals, a saddle or seat for the rider, and an electric motor of less than 750 watts that meets the requirements of one of the following three classes:

(a) “Class 1 electric bicycle” shall mean an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.

(b) “Class 2 electric bicycle” shall mean an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.

(c) “Class 3 electric bicycle” shall mean an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour.

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State E-Bike Definitions

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State E-Bike Age Restrictions - Overview

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State E-Bike Age Restrictions – In Depth

Under 18 cannot operate Class 3 without a helmet

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State E-Bike Age Restrictions – In Depth

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State E-Bike Helmet Requirements - Overview

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State E-Bike Helmet Requirements – In Depth

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State E-Bike Specific Sidewalk Operation Restrictions

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New Jersey Removes 3-Tier Classification and Requires License and Registration for E-Bikes (SB 4834, 2026)

Eliminated the state’s three-tier e-bike classification system. 

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“Low-speed electric bicycles” refers to bikes with an electric motor that cease to assist once the rider reaches 20 miles per hour; “motorized bicycles” means bikes with a throttle that max out at 15 miles per hour; and “electric motorized bicycles” includes two-wheel pedaled vehicles with an electric motor that can exceed 28 miles per hour.

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Requires registration and a driver license for “electric motorized bicycles” and “low-speed electric bicycles” within six months but provides a one-year registration and licensing fee waiver.

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Restricts operation of a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle for anyone under 15 years of age. Those ages 15-17 must possess a valid motorized bicycle license or permit. Those over the age of 17 years of age or older must possess a valid basic driver’s license or a valid motorized bicycle license or permit.

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NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES

State E-Motorcycle Laws

    States have begun to reevaluate where the line is between e-bikes and “e-motos.”

• California SB 586 (Enacted 2025) Defines the term “off-highway electric motorcycle” as an off-highway motorcycle subject to identification that is designed for operation primarily off the highway, powered by an electric motor, has two wheels, and is not equipped with pedals from the manufacturer. Classifies an off-highway electric motorcycle as an off-highway motor vehicle, thereby subjecting off-highway electric motorcycles to the rules and regulations relating to off-highway motor vehicles.

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• New Jersey SB 4834 (Enacted, 2026) prohibited the online sale of an “Electric motorized bicycle” which is defined as “any two-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor capable of greater than 750 watts that is capable of reaching a speed greater than 28 miles per hour” for one year.

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• Utah HB 381 (Enacted, 2026) Creates a definition for “electric motorcycle” to mean “a motorcycle: (a) powered by an electric motor of more than 750 watts; and (b) capable of exceeding a speed of 20 miles per hour using the power of the electric motor alone.” Clarifies that an electric motorcycle is a “High power electric device” which means a self-propelled vehicle powered by an electric motor capable of traveling more than 20 miles per hour on the power of the electric motor alone. 

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NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES

State E-Bike Retail Disclosure Laws

Six states – CA, CO, CT, MN, NY and UT - have recently enacted laws requiring e-bike retailers to disclose certain information to e-bike buyers.

• Colorado (HB 1197, 2025) prohibited advertising or offering for sale a vehicle that is not an e-bike as any class of e-bike or falsely labeling as such.

• New York (SB 7744, 2024) requires all sold e-bikes or micromobility devices to include a tag that reads “NOTICE: In New York State, you cannot use this device on sidewalks or on highways with speed limits over 30 mph unless there is a sign or public notice allowing it. Always yield to pedestrians and follow traffic rules. Additional rules may apply depending on the city, town or village.” Failure to include this notice will result in a fine of $250 for the 1^st offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense for the business selling the vehicle.

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State E-Bike Enforcement Strategies

• California AB 875 (Enacted 2025) Authorizes a peace officer to remove a vehicle that (1) has fewer than 4 wheels, but that does not meet the definition of an electric bicycle, if that vehicle is powered by an electric motor capable of exclusively propelling the vehicle in excess of 20 miles per hour on a highway and is being operated by an operator without a current license to operate the vehicle, or (2) is a class 3 electric bicycle being operated by a person under 16 years of age.

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• California (AB 965, 2025) prohibited �selling a class 3 electric bicycle to a �person under 16 years of age, punishable �by a fine of up to $250.

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Illegally Modified E-Bike State Penalties

• California (AB 545, 2025) prohibited selling an application that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle.  

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• Connecticut (HB 7160, 2025) required anyone who modifies an e-bike to change its motor-powered speed capability or motor engagement to also modify the required label appropriately; failure to do so is punishable by a fine of up to $100 for the first offense and $100 to $300 for subsequent offenses.

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• New Jersey (SB 4834, 2026) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, modification kits designed to turn a low-speed electric bicycle into a motorized bicycle or an electric motorized bicycle.

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California County Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program

California's San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program (AB 2234, 2024) and California's Marin Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program (AB 1778, 2024)

Similarities:

• Officers in both counties are to provide warnings for age or helmet violations for the first 60 days after enactment, and following the first 60 days the infraction is punishable by a fine of $25.
• Record of action shall not be transmitted to a court if the person who committed the violation, or their parent/legal guardian, delivers proof within 120 days after citation that the person has completed a safety program.
• Parents and legal guardians shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the fine imposed.
• Both counties must submit a report to the legislature on January 1, 2028, including total number of traffic stops initiated for violations and the results of those traffic stops.

Differences:

• Seven cities in San Diego County have adopted ordinances prohibiting a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 e-bike, while Marin County prevents anyone under the age of 16 from operating a class 2 e-bike.
• Helmets are required for all e-bikes riders in Marin County. 

New County Pilot Programs?

• Orange County (SB 956, Pending) Would require  a special license plate on the rear of e-bikes and an associated fee. 
• San Mateo County (AB 2595, Pending) Would allow county or local governments to prevent a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 e-bike.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES

Crash and Injury Reporting

• Florida (SB 382, enrolled but not yet enacted, 2026) required the Florida Highway Patrol and each police department and sheriff’s office to maintain a list of all traffic crashes investigated which involved an e-bike or e-scooter. Must include the (a) Date and time of the crash;  (b) If applicable, the class of electric bicycle involved in the crash; (c) Age of the micromobility device operator involved in the crash;  (d) If known, whether the micromobility device operator possessed a valid Florida learner’s driver license or driver license. By October 15, 2026, each police department and sheriff’s office must submit a report to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Governor, the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House containing a list of all micromobility device crashes.

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• New Jersey (SB 4834, 2026) requires any law enforcement officer investigating a crash involving a “motorized bicycle” or “low-speed electric bicycle” to report the accident to the Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

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• New York (AB 7628, 2024) required any fatal crash or crash causing serious injury involving an e-bike, e-scooter or other micromobility device to be investigated and reported by the responding police officer. The report must include information on the types of vehicles involved and must  be submitted within five days.

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Thank you for joining today!

Doug Shinkle

Associate Director

douglas.shinkle@ncsl.org

303-521-6359

www.ncsl.org

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��@NCSLorg

Denver �7700 East First Place, �Denver CO 80230 

�Washington D.C.

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NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES