09/22/2026
Parents and guardians need to talk to kids who use E-bikes, scooters, other types of vehicles.
All need to know the rules of the road so that everyone stays safe.
UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATION ALERT
IF YOUR CHILD HAS AN E-BIKE, DO YOU KNOW MARYLAND’S LAWS — AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A PARENT?
THIS IS A POST THAT EVERY LOCAL FAMILY SHOULD READ AND DISCUSS TODAY.
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE INCREASE IN UNLICENSED JUVENILES RIDING ELECTRIC BIKES, SCOOTERS, BICYCLES, DIRT BIKES, GOLF CARTS, LSVs, & UTVs ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS
SHARE IT, TALK ABOUT IT, HOLD THE KEYS & BATTERIES
A photo circulating on social media came to the attention of Anne Arundel First Alert after an encounter on MD 177 (Mountain Road) in Pasadena on the night of 9/19. The post raises an important public safety question for all local families and a stark reminder for drivers to remain ALERT at all times.
AAFA covered similar stories about the massive safety issues regarding e-bikes and scooters on both Mountain Road and Fort Smallwood in recent weeks, but it appears we need to SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE who didn’t see those posts. Parents of juveniles riding e-bikes, dirtbikes, scooters, bicycles, UTVs, golf-carts and other LSVs should all be having a conversation with your children about the laws and using public roadways. If your grandchildren have these vehicles - ask their parents if they know what class the vehicle is and what the laws are.
If your child is operating a golf cart on a public roadway the same conversation applies. Maryland law does not generally allow a child to simply take a golf cart onto a public road. Where a county or municipality has specifically authorized golf-cart use on designated local roads, the operator must hold a valid driver’s license, may generally operate only on roads with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less, must travel between dawn and dusk, use required lighting and stay as far to the right as feasible.
Local governments decide which roads, if any, are open to golf carts. That means an unlicensed juvenile cannot legally operate a golf cart on a public roadway under Maryland’s golf-cart provision, even if the vehicle is commonly used around a neighborhood or private community. Parents should also know that a true low-speed vehicle, which is legally different from a golf cart, has separate requirements, including registration, insurance, a licensed driver and restrictions on roads with speed limits above 30 mph.
Do families know exactly what their child is riding, where it can legally be operated and what Maryland law requires?
That is exactly the conversation families may need to be having before handing over the keys — or the battery.
Before a child takes a vehicle onto a public roadway, parents should know:
• What class is the vehicle ?
• What is its motor wattage?
• How fast can it travel under electric assistance?
• Is their child legally old enough to operate that class on a
public road?
• Does it have the lighting and reflectors required for
nighttime riding?
• Does their child understand lane positioning, intersections
and the risks of riding alongside cars and trucks?
• Have they talked about the dangers of texting, looking at a
phone or otherwise becoming distracted while riding in
traffic?
• Is a helmet being worn, even if the rider is old enough that
state law may no longer require one?
There is also a responsibility placed directly on parents and guardians under Maryland law.
State law says a parent or guardian may not authorize a minor to violate Maryland’s bicycle laws and may not knowingly permit a minor to do so.
WHY THIS CONVERSATION MATTERS
The issue came into focus Saturday around 8 p.m., when a community member photographed a juvenile riding what appeared to be an electric bicycle on Mountain Road in Pasadena.
The person who submitted the photo said the rider had been at Loopers Field before making a left from North Shore Road onto Mountain Road.
According to the witness, the juvenile then rode very close to the bumper of the vehicle ahead, was not wearing a helmet and appeared to be texting or otherwise using a cellphone while riding.
That detail is particularly concerning because a rider looking down at a phone may be taking attention away from traffic, changing road conditions, pedestrians, turning vehicles and the distance between the bike and the vehicle ahead.
On a busy roadway, especially after dark, even a few seconds of distraction can significantly reduce the time a rider has to recognize and react to a hazard.
Maryland’s specific prohibition on texting while driving applies to people operating a motor vehicle in the travel portion of a roadway. A qualifying electric bicycle is excluded from Maryland’s legal definition of a motor vehicle, so we would not characterize the reported phone use in this case as a violation of that particular texting statute based on the information available. (Maryland General Assembly)
But the broader safety concern remains: distracted riding can be just as consequential when a young rider is moving at bicycle or e-bike speeds alongside cars and trucks.
Maryland law also generally gives bicycle operators the rights and duties of vehicle drivers when those provisions can reasonably apply. State law separately prohibits a bicycle rider from carrying an item that prevents the rider from keeping both hands on the handlebars or interferes with the rider’s view or balance.
The witness was also concerned about visibility. It was nighttime, and the rider appeared to have only a small front light. Factor in that the rider was dressed in all black clothing, and without any visible reflective gear in a low lit area. The safety concern that drivers might not be able to see the rider is completely valid.
The original poster believed the lack of a license plate meant the bike could not legally be operated on Mountain Road.
That is not necessarily the case — and it highlights why understanding exactly what type of electric vehicle a child is riding is so important.
NOT EVERY ELECTRIC BIKE IS THE SAME
Under Maryland law, a qualifying electric bicycle must have fully operable pedals, two or three wheels and a motor rated at no more than 750 watts.
Maryland recognizes three classes:
Class 1: Pedal assistance up to 20 mph.
Class 2: Motor assistance, with or without pedaling, up to 20
mph.
Class 3: Pedal assistance up to 28 mph.
A qualifying e-bike generally does not need a driver’s license, vehicle registration or license plate simply to be ridden on a roadway where bicycles are permitted.
But that changes the importance of knowing exactly what your child owns.
Some electric two-wheelers sold or described as “e-bikes” can fall outside Maryland’s legal e-bike definition because of their power, speed, equipment or design. Different laws may then apply.
This vehicle appears to be a 79BIKE Falcon-Lite electric dirt bike (often referred to as an "e-moto" or electric motorcycle).You can read the "FALCON-LITE" branding clearly printed directly on the red light/plate bracket sitting right above the rear knobby tire. Bike type is classified as high-performance electric dirt bike / light electric motorcycle. Power: Features a 72V battery setup with an 8000W peak power motor.
According to Google: The 79BIKE Falcon-Lite does not fall into any standard, legal e-bike class. Legally and mechanically, it is classified as an electric motorcycle or off-road electric dirt bike. That’s due to the dirt bike’s massive power. It features an 8,000W peak power motor—more than 10 times the legal limit for a standard electric bicycle. It reaches top speeds of 50 to 52 mph right out of the box. It also features a pure twist-throttle with dirt bike foot pegs rather than a functional pedal-assist system. (No pedals)
AGE MATTERS, TOO
Maryland prohibits anyone under 16 from operating a Class 3 electric bicycle on a public highway.
Helmet requirements also depend on age. Maryland requires riders under 16 to wear an approved helmet while riding a bicycle, including an electric bicycle, on a highway, bicycle way or other property open to public traffic.
The larger concern here is not whether one photograph can prove every possible violation.
It is whether families buying increasingly fast and powerful electric bikes and other above mentioned vehicles for children understand what those vehicles are capable of — and whether young riders understand the responsibility that comes with taking them into traffic ?
A rider traveling 20 mph or more, after dark, close behind another vehicle and looking at a cellphone has very little margin for error.
Maryland law says a parent or guardian may not authorize or knowingly permit a minor to violate the state’s bicycle laws.
The goal here isn’t to single out one teenager or one family.
Our goal is to spark discussions about safety in your homes.
The intention is to prevent the next photo from a crash involving a teen driver on one of these vehicles from ever being posted here.
If your child has an e-bike, do you know its class, wattage and maximum assisted speed? If you have a golf cart, ATV or LSV, scooter etc - check the manufacturers specs and the law in Maryland.
And perhaps more importantly:
Have you had the conversation about helmets, nighttime visibility, distracted riding, roadway rules and what can happen when either the rider or a driver does not see a hazard in time?
