Page 10 - Cleveland Vol 5 No 3

If
you like to hit the trails on the weekends, or commute to work by bike, you may already know that your
als, a small motor engages, providing the rider with a boost. In addition to this pedal-assist feature, some e-bikes come with a throttle that engages the motor with the press of a button. Cy- clists can ride more o en and farther on an e-bike than on a traditional bi- cycle. E-bikes may provide a new rec- reation option for people who want to bike and, in general, extend the range of any ride.
ree e-bike classi cations have been established by the bicycle indus- try to describe and clarify e-bikes’ ca- pabilities and support the enactment of appropriate legislation and regula- tions regarding their equipment and usage. e Ohio legislature followed suit and adopted these classi cations:
Class 1: A bicycle that is equipped with fully operable pedals and an elec- tric motor of less than 750 watts that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
Class 2: A bicycle that is equipped with fully operable pedals and an elec- tric motor of less than 750 watts that may provide assistance regardless of whether the rider is pedaling and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
Class 3: A bicycle that is equipped with fully operable pedals and an elec- tric motor of less than 750 watts that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assis-
tance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour.
Under the new Ohio law, the clas- si cation of your e-bike is the deter- mining factor in what equipment is required, who may operate the e-bike and where it may be ridden.
E-BIKE REQUIREMENTS
When it comes to required safety equipment, e-bike owners must com- ply with the same laws that govern bicycles. Bicycles and e-bikes of all classi cations must have operable brakes and a front-mounted white light, as well as a rear-facing ashing or steady red light or red re ector. Class 3 e-bikes have one additional requirement: A Class 3 e-bike must be equipped with a speedometer that displays its speed in miles per hour.
You do not need a special license to own or operate an e-bike in Ohio. If you can ride a bicycle and under- stand the laws that apply to its opera- tion, you are permitted to ride a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike. However, because Class 3 e-bikes can reach a top speed of 28 miles per hour, Class 3 e-bike operators are required to be at least 16 years of age and wear a protective helmet.
WHERE YOU CAN (AND CANNOT) RIDE AN E-BIKE
Provided you comply with all tra c laws, you can ride your e-bike on any street, roadway, or highway in Ohio. You may not ride an e-bike on a free-
regular bicycle is recognized as a ve- hicle under the law ,and that you must follow certain laws to operate it. But if your bicycle has a motor, you may be surprised to discover that state legis- latures have only begun to tackle how to di erentiate and de ne electric bi- cycles – or e-bikes – and regulate their operation and equipment standards. e primary challenge is in identify- ing the distinction between e-bikes and other motorized vehicles, such as scooters and mopeds.
Until recently, Ohio was one of only 20 states without e-bike regulation. In November 2018, Ohio passed House Bill 250 to establish requirements for using electric bicycles. Ohio’s new law went into e ect on March 8, 2019 and explicitly excludes e-bikes from the de nition of motor vehicles, motor- ized bicycles and mopeds. Under the law, all bicycles, including e-bikes, are de ned as vehicles subject to regula- tion for both equipment and opera- tion.
WHAT IS AN E-BIKE?
E-bikes resemble traditional bi- cycles in both appearance and opera- tion. ey are not scooters, or mo- peds, nor do they function in a similar manner. E-bikes are equipped with a battery-powered motor that provides assistance. When you push the ped-
ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · OHIO · VOL. 5 NO. 3 10
Law You Can Use:
Ohio Legislature Propels E-Bike Legislation Across Finish Line BY PATRICIA SEIFERT