You might be asking “Is it legal to ride an electric bike (e-bike) in Canada?”, “Do I need a license to operate an ebike in the USA?” or even “Can I operate a 1000 watt ebike, legally?”. If you’re a US or Canadian rider, you can read on to find out about the legality of using an e-bike in your area.
Note: The information contained in this blog post is a general summary. For more detailed information, please click here for more info. Please also check your local area for up-to-date regulations and to confirm the accuracy of this information.
Riding an E-Bike in the USA
In the United States, it’s important to note that there is a four tiered classification system based on speed capabilities. While the classification might vary slightly based on the specific state, below is a general outline.
Class 1
A bicycle fitted with an electric motor (up to 750W). The motor provides assistance only when the pedals are in use, and stops assisting when the bike reaches 20 mph. A throttle is not allowed.
Class 2
A bicycle fitted with an electric motor (up to 750W). The motor provides assistance regardless if the pedals are in use, and stops assisting when the bike reaches 20 mph. A throttle is allowed.
Class 3
A bicycle fitted with an electric motor (up to 750W). The motor provides assistance only when the pedals are in use, and turns off when the bicycle reaches 28 mph. The bicycle also comes equipped with a speedometer. A throttle is allowed up to 20 mph.
Class 4
Electric motorcycles and mopeds fit into this category, which we do not sell at Rize. They would require the necessary registration, license, and insurance to operate. Within this classification tier you would also find ebikes in the 1000W motor allowance range and most states would consider a 1000W ebike an electric moped in which case a title, registration, and insurance might apply.
Is it Legal to Ride an Electric Bike in the USA?
In the United States, electric bikes are generally ruled by the same regulations that cover normal bicycles. And, just like with Canadian e-bike regulations, the U.S. government largely defers to state and city law for the finer details.
The main thing to note however, is that according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, ebikes should not travel faster than 20 mph if using both the motor and pedaling at the same time. Other than that, it’s as easy as walking out the door with your new Rize ebike, and enjoying the fresh air and wind on your face.
It also appears that e-bikes can be ridden in all U.S. national parks but seems prudent to double check and we can guarantee there are some off road trails where bikes and e-bikes are prohibited.
Having said that, it’s important to consider that these rules are likely to change and adapt over time. Be sure to check your local laws regularly and double check the accuracy of this information.
Do you Need a License to Operate an Electric Bike in the USA?
As of this writing, and in the context of the above information, we’re not aware of any licensing being required to operate a Class-1 or Class-2 bike in the USA. However, certain states do require licensing for Class-3 ebikes.
Requires a license
Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Does not require a license
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington.
*States not mentioned above have no known specifications to date.
Is There a Minimum Age Requirement to Operate an E-Bike in the USA?
Certain age restrictions are applicable in terms of unsupervised riders under the age of 18. We’ve broken down the information by state and age, below.
Must be over 14 years old
Alabama, Alaska, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia.
Must be over 15 years old
Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey.
Must be over 16 years old
Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia.
Must be over 18 years old
Ohio
*States not mentioned above have no known age restriction specifications to date.
Do you Need a Helmet to Ride an Ebike in the USA?
The vast majority of the states in the USA do require some sort of helmet, whether a bicycle or motorcycle one. Below is an alphabetical list of where helmets are required and where they are not. Please be sure to contact your local government for additional information, and confirmation, on this.
Helmet required
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.
Helmet not required
Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington.
*States not mentioned above have no known specifications to date.
Riding an E-Bike in Canada
The Canadian government first addressed electric bikes via legislation in the year 2001, as part of Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations. Up until that point, there was confusion as to what exactly constituted an electric bicycle and therefore, what rules applied to their usage. The legislation defined electric bikes as “power assisted bicycles”, setting them apart from other kinds of motorized vehicles that might have a similar look but, in 2021, the government decided to repeal its definition of “power-assisted bicycle” leaving it up to each province and territory to define the characteristics of an ebike and other eclectic based mobility vehicles.
Based off the previous federal government’s definition however, an electric bike or power assisted bicycle in Canada would be considered as follows:
- Must have operable pedals, and an attached electric motor of 500 watts or less.
- They must not exceed 32 km/hr from the motor on level ground (going downhill is a different story, since it doesn’t speak to motor capabilities).
Electric bikes with 750W or 1000W motors appear to be allowed in some off-road areas but there are restrictions. In a nutshell, ebikes with over 500 watts are not considered street-legal in Canada.
Is it Legal to Ride an Electric Bike in Canada?
As mentioned above, there are exceptions based on area but for the most part, ebikes in Canada are limited to a 500 W output and cannot travel faster than 32 km/h (20 mph) on motor power alone on level ground, each provincial state or territory has the authorization to include their own laws and regulations.
Is it Legal to Ride in Canadian Parks?
Riding an ebike is allowed in numerous Candian parks, and different provinces have their own set of restrictions. For example, Class-1 e-bikes are permitted on any BC Parks trail where mountain bikes or other cycling is allowed, while Class 2 and 3 e-bikes are only permitted on trails and/or roads designated for motorized vehicles. *This chart (shown below) is featured on the BC Parks website.
Do you Require a License to Operate an Electric Bike in Canada?
Canadian provinces do not require a license for you to operate an ebike, with one exception. The province of Quebec stipulates that riders between the ages of 14 and 17 should obtain a class 6D license (this license allows people to additionally operate a moped or motorized scooter, in that province).
Is There a Minimum Age Requirement to Operate an E-Bike in Canada?
Similar as in the US, there are certain age restrictions that are applicable in terms of unsupervised riders under the age of 18. Below is a chart based on age and province to help make this information more clear.
Must be over 12 years old
Alberta.
Must be over 14 years old
Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan.
Must be over 16 years old
British Columbia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island.
*Provinces not mentioned above have no known age restrictions, to date.
Do you Need a Helmet to Ride an Ebike in Canada?
It’s important to note that in all areas of Canada, you must abide by the helmet regulations set forth by the government. This means that a helmet must be properly secured and must fit on the rider’s head while making use of their bike or ebike - unless specifically stated.
You’re Now Good to Go!
As mentioned throughout the article, we recommend reaching out to your local government for additional details on the rules and regulations mentioned, and to check for updates. Also, if you’re interested in more info related to the differences between motor size, click here. Thanks for reading!
To learn more about Rize Bikes, please check out our website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, promos, and product info. If you have any specific questions, please don’t hesitate to call the Rize Sales Department toll-free at: 1-888-600-1545. Phone lines are open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm PST or email support@rizebikes.com.
