E-pedal power.

• Author: Shinkle, Doug
• Position: TRENDS - Brief article

For all the benefits of riding an electronic bicycle--like arriving at work sweat-free or getting a bit of extra help on a long ride--there's a problem many riders can't avoid. While 27 states and D.C. define e-bikes and clarify where they can be operated, the remaining 23 states group the bikes with mopeds, scooters and other solely motor powered vehicles. That means e-cyclists, whose bikes are "pedal-assist" and don't operate absent human exertion, must deal with burdensome licensing, registration or equipment requirements.

But, with about 200,000 e-bikes sold in the U.S. every year and that number growing, state legislatures are clarifying and refining existing laws. Much of the recent legislation has removed e-bikes from the mopeds and scooters classification. Other states are refining more recent e-bike laws to provide more detail on allowed areas of operation...