E-Bikes
Electric Bicycles are an incredible innovation, and a wonderful addition to the plethora of options available to casual and serious bike riders. Thanks to E-Bikes, far more people can now choose to ride a bike, regardless of biking style, transportation needs and physical conditions. BikeWalk is a HUGE fan of low-speed electric bicycles, and we encourage their use both in general and on our rides.
The Problem
With any new innovation, there can be negative consequences, and many municipalities are grappling with fast electric vehicles being ridden recklessly, often in places where they are explicitly not allowed. Officials, stakeholders and citizens in Winchester are starting to have healthy and important discussions around E-Bikes.
Low speed electric bicycles are generally considered a really great thing. These are the bikes that an avid biker who's getting older or has an injury might decide to upgrade to. Or a bike that someone might take to work because they don't want to get sweaty on hills. Or perhaps a parent needing some extra help hauling kids.
However, LOTS of other types of vehicles are being unintentionally (and sometimes intentionally) lopped into the e-bike category. Many of these bikes are unregulated high speed vehicles hiding in plain site.
The following information is pulled directly from an article written by People for Bikes. Click HERE to read the full article.
What's an E-Bike?
'“E-bike” is a generic term that lumps together everything with two wheels and an electric motor and can include a variety of devices including electric bicycles, electric mopeds, scooters, electric dirt bikes and electric motorcycles. These are all different vehicle types and their differences need to be taken into account when developing appropriate laws and regulations to govern their safe use on public roads and trails.'
Low-Speed Electric Bicycles
'Low-speed electric bicycles are a clearly defined vehicle type under both federal and most state laws: they must have operable pedals, an electric motor of 750 watts or less, and a maximum speed when powered solely by the motor of 20 miles per hour. A vehicle that does not meet all three requirements in that definition is not an electric bicycle. Electric bicycles are not motor vehicles. They are consumer products and their use on public roads and trails is generally regulated the same as bicycles. Almost every state already fully defines what an electric bicycle is, and how and where it may be operated.'
What Is An E-Moto?
'E-motos are electric mopeds, electric motorcycles and electric dirt bikes that are much more powerful and faster than any electric bicycle. E-motos may have motors with thousands of watts of power that far exceed the 750 watts allowed for a legal electric bicycle. They are equipped with throttles and typically can go in excess of 30 miles per hour, faster than any electric bicycle is capable of traveling. Some E-motos can achieve highway speeds of 65 miles per hour.'
'Unlike low-speed electric bicycles, E-motos intended for use on public streets are considered “motor-driven cycles” (a type of motor vehicle) and are subject to federal motor vehicle safety standards. In terms of use, in most states E-motos must also be registered and insured to be used on public roads, and either a driver’s license or motorcycle operator license is required. E-motos intended for off-road use (electric dirt bikes) may be subject to state off-road vehicle registration requirements, such as those recently passed by the California legislature. While some state laws do not specifically mention electric motor power, the legal status of e-motos as motor vehicles has been settled for many years.'
'E-motos are often equipped with pedals from the manufacturer or have pedals added by consumers in an attempt to disguise the e-moto as an electric bicycle and “fly under the radar.” While operable pedals are required for a vehicle to be an electric bicycle, the mere presence of pedals on an overpowered or excessively fast e-moto does not make it a “legal” electric bicycle. Any vehicle with an electric motor in excess of 750 watts or that can travel over 20 miles per hour when powered only by the motor is not an electric bicycle, even if it has pedals and the manufacturer claims it is “street legal.”'
'[Many of] The companies that make, import and sell e-motos are attempting to skirt legal and safety requirements for motor vehicles in order to sell their products. Their intention is to deceive the public into believing their e-moto is an electric bicycle or “e-bike” that does not require a driver's license to operate and may even be appropriate for children. These manufacturers put pedals on an electric moped, or simply include a mode or setting that limits the top speed to 20 miles per hour and claim it’s a Class 2 electric bicycle. This same device can be easily “unlocked” to go faster than 20 miles per hour and may have a faster unlimited “off-road” mode built into the controller. E-motos are motor vehicles.'
'Unfortunately, e-motos are also very popular and are being purchased by parents for their kids. E-moto companies relentlessly market their products to teens and pre-teens on social media as “lifestyle” products. Young people riding e-motos recklessly through their communities has led to calls for more regulation of “e-bikes” when electric bicycles are not the primary issue. And this scenario can have tragic results: a teenager riding an unregistered and illegal e-moto loses control, is in a crash with a motor vehicle or hits a pedestrian or cyclist. These crashes have occurred in California, Massachusetts, Oregon, Virginia, Florida, and elsewhere.
People for Bikes has provided a plethora of straightforward, easy to digest information helping officials, stakeholders and consumers understand the problems and potential solutions around e-bikes. We encourage anyone interested in the topic to take a look!
E-Bike / E-Moto series from PeopleforBikes
part 1 https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/the-e-bike-problem-is-an-e-moto-problem
part 2 https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/the-hidden-dangers-of-illegal-e-motos
part 3 https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/solutions-to-the-e-moto-problem
More Information is Coming from the State of VA this Year
Department of Motor Vehicles Workgroup established per HB1120 (signed 4/13/2026)
https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1120
Directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to examine and make recommendations for options and measures for improving the safety of electric power-assisted bicycles, motorized skateboards and scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and mopeds for operators and the general public and submit a report of its findings to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation no later than November 1, 2026.
Summary of the bill from the Virginia Association of Counties
https://www.vaco.org/county-connections/dmv-convenes-workgroup-to-address-e-bike-and-scooter-safety/
Current Code of Virginia - Definitions
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-100/
"Bicycle" means a device propelled solely by human power, upon which a person may ride either on or astride a regular seat attached thereto, having two or more wheels in tandem, including children's bicycles, except a toy vehicle intended for use by young children. For purposes of Chapter 8 (§ 46.2-800 et seq.), a bicycle shall be a vehicle while operated on the highway.
"Electric personal assistive mobility device" means a self-balancing two-nontandem-wheeled device that is designed to transport only one person and powered by an electric propulsion system that limits the device's maximum speed to 15 miles per hour or less. For purposes of Chapter 8 (§ 46.2-800 et seq.), an electric personal assistive mobility device shall be a vehicle when operated on a highway.
"Electric power-assisted bicycle" means a vehicle that travels on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground and is equipped with (i) pedals that allow propulsion by human power, (ii) a seat for the use of the rider, and (iii) an electric motor with an input of no more than 750 watts. Electric power-assisted bicycles shall be classified as follows:
1. "Class one" means an electric power-assisted bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour;
2. "Class two" means an electric power-assisted bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour; and
3. "Class three" means an electric power-assisted 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.
For the purposes of Chapter 8 (§ 46.2-800 et seq.), an electric power-assisted bicycle shall be a vehicle when operated on a highway.
"Moped" means every vehicle that travels on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground that (i) has a seat that is no less than 24 inches in height, measured from the middle of the seat perpendicular to the ground; (ii) has a gasoline, electric, or hybrid motor that (a) displaces 50 cubic centimeters or less or (b) has an input of 1500 watts or less; (iii) is power-driven, with or without pedals that allow propulsion by human power; and (iv) is not operated at speeds in excess of 35 miles per hour. "Moped" does not include an electric power-assisted bicycle or a motorized skateboard or scooter. For purposes of this title, a moped shall be a motorcycle when operated at speeds in excess of 35 miles per hour. For purposes of Chapter 8 (§ 46.2-800 et seq.), a moped shall be a vehicle while operated on a highway.
"Motor-driven cycle" means every motorcycle that has a gasoline engine that (i) displaces less than 150 cubic centimeters; (ii) has a seat less than 24 inches in height, measured from the middle of the seat perpendicular to the ground; and (iii) has no manufacturer-issued vehicle identification number.
"Motorcycle" means every motor vehicle designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground and is capable of traveling at speeds in excess of 35 miles per hour. "Motorcycle" does not include any "autocycle," "electric personal assistive mobility device," "electric power-assisted bicycle," "farm tractor," "golf cart," "moped," "motorized skateboard or scooter," "utility vehicle," or "wheelchair or wheelchair conveyance" as defined in this section.
"Motorized skateboard or scooter" means every vehicle, regardless of the number of its wheels in contact with the ground, that (i) is designed to allow an operator to sit or stand, (ii) has no manufacturer-issued vehicle identification number, (iii) is powered in whole or in part by an electric motor, (iv) weighs less than 100 pounds, and (v) has a speed of no more than 20 miles per hour on a paved level surface when powered solely by the electric motor. "Motorized skateboard or scooter" includes vehicles with or without handlebars but does not include electric personal assistive mobility devices or electric power-assisted bicycles.