E-bike regulations put the brakes on young riders

Officer Mike McComb with the Park City Police Department gives tips on safely operating E-bikes. Photo: Park City Police Department

Did you know that the rules require parental supervision and restrict age limits for different classes of e-bikes?

PARK CITY, Utah — With the rising popularity of e-bikes, the Park City Police Department is reminding parents of age restrictions for young riders. These regulations are crucial for ensuring the safety and proper use of e-bikes among children.

Many residents are unaware that e-bikes are categorized into different classes, and each class has specific age-related restrictions. The table below describes the key features of the various classes of e-bikes:

And here are the corresponding local regulations:

• Children under the age of 16 are prohibited from riding class 3 E-bikes.
• Children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent when riding any class of E-bike. Lieutenant Jay Randall of the Park City Police Department clarified, “Our interpretation of ‘accompanied’ is near the juvenile and has the ability to supervise and influence riding behaviors.” This restriction applies to all classes of e-bikes.
• Children under eight are not permitted to operate any class of e-bike on public property, including streets and sidewalks.

Please share your thoughts and experiences with e-bike regulations at tips@townlift.com.