08/27/2026
A LONG post, but one certainly worth reading if you are an e-bike rider, or the parent of an e-Bike rider!
E-BIKES IN BELLBROOK: KNOW THE RULES BEFORE YOU RIDE!
Electric bicycles are becoming increasingly popular in Bellbrook and throughout Ohio. They're a great way to get around, exercise and enjoy our community—but not all e-bikes are the same, and the rules can differ depending on the class of e-bike you are operating.
The Bellbrook Police Department would like to provide the following information to help riders, parents and motorists understand Ohio's e-bike laws and how they apply in our community.
FIRST: WHAT IS AN E-BIKE?
Ohio law recognizes three classes of electric bicycles. All three classifications require:
• Fully operable pedals
• An electric motor rated at less than 750 watts
• Compliance with the applicable maximum assisted speed
An e-bike should also have a manufacturer's classification label identifying whether it is Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3, its maximum assisted speed and motor wattage. Ohio law prohibits modifying an e-bike's assisted speed without also updating the required label.
CLASS 1 — PEDAL ASSIST
A Class 1 e-bike:
• Has fully operable pedals
• Provides electric assistance only while the rider is pedaling
• Stops providing motor assistance when the bicycle reaches 20 MPH
Think: You pedal → the motor assists you. Stop pedaling → the motor stops assisting.
Under Ohio law, Class 1 e-bikes generally may be operated on public roadways and on bicycle-only or shared-use paths.
CLASS 2 — THROTTLE-ASSIST
A Class 2 e-bike:
• Has fully operable pedals
• May provide motor assistance without the rider pedaling
• Is limited to 20 MPH of motor assistance
These are commonly the e-bikes equipped with a throttle that can propel the bicycle without pedaling.
Class 2 e-bikes generally may be operated on public roadways and on bicycle-only or shared-use paths.
CLASS 3 — HIGHER-SPEED PEDAL ASSIST
A Class 3 e-bike:
• Has fully operable pedals
• Provides assistance only while the rider is pedaling
• Stops providing assistance when the bicycle reaches 28 MPH
• Must be equipped with a speedometer displaying MPH
All three classes of legally compliant electric bicycles—Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3—are permitted on Bellbrook's roadway-adjacent shared-use paths, including the shared-use paths along W. Franklin Street/SR 725 and N. Main Street.
Please note the distinction that neighborhood SIDEWALKS are not the same as the SHARED USE PATHS along W. Franklin St. and N. Main Streets. If riding an e-bike on a neighborhood sidewalk, the e-bike motor cannot be engaged (ORC §4511.711(A)).
Class 3 e-bikes receive special treatment under Ohio law. While Class 3 e-bikes are generally restricted from shared-use paths, Ohio law specifically permits their operation on a shared-use path that is within or adjacent to a highway.
Riders must comply with all applicable Ohio traffic laws and Bellbrook ordinances and must operate in a safe and responsible manner around pedestrians and other path users.
🚫 REMEMBER:
The rules depend upon what type of device you are operating and what type of path you are using.
Do not assume that:
❌ "It's electric, so I can ride anywhere."
or
❌ "It's a bicycle, so every path or sidewalk is automatically permitted."
WHAT ABOUT RIDING ON BELLBROOK STREETS?
E-bikes are treated as bicycles under Ohio's bicycle/electric-bicycle traffic provisions. When riding on a roadway, riders must obey applicable traffic laws and exercise due care.
Ohio law generally requires a person operating a bicycle or e-bike on a roadway to ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, while recognizing that a rider does not have to ride at the edge of the roadway when doing so would be unreasonable or unsafe.
Riders must also obey traffic signals, stop signs and other applicable traffic-control devices.
🚗 Motorists: Please remember that an e-bike is a road user. Give bicyclists/e-bike riders adequate space and exercise patience when passing.
🚲 Riders: You are responsible for following the same applicable traffic-control requirements that apply to bicycle operators.
👮 IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS AND YOUNG RIDERS
Ohio law contains additional restrictions for Class 3 e-bikes:
🚫 A person under 16 years of age may not operate a Class 3 e-bike.
Anyone operating or riding as a passenger on a Class 3 e-bike must wear a protective helmet meeting the applicable safety standards.
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes do not have the same statewide age restriction that applies specifically to Class 3 operation, although the Bellbrook Police Department strongly recommends that all young riders wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet.
RIDING AT NIGHT
Bicycle and e-bike riders should make themselves visible to motorists and pedestrians.
Ohio law contains equipment requirements for bicycles and e-bikes operated during nighttime hours. Proper front lighting, rear reflectors and additional visibility equipment can make a tremendous difference.
If you can see a vehicle, that doesn't necessarily mean the driver can see you.
Use lights and reflective equipment and wear bright or reflective clothing whenever possible.
HOW CAN I TELL WHAT CLASS MY E-BIKE IS?
Look for the manufacturer's classification label on the bicycle.
The label should identify:
CLASS 1 / CLASS 2 / CLASS 3
and should also provide the bicycle's maximum assisted speed and motor wattage.
If your bicycle has been modified—particularly if the modification increases its assisted speed—make sure it remains compliant with Ohio law.
A bicycle capable of substantially greater speeds than the legal Class 1, 2 or 3 definitions may no longer qualify as an electric bicycle under Ohio law.
🚨 SAFETY REMINDER
An e-bike may look like a traditional bicycle, but some e-bikes are capable of speeds approaching 30 MPH.
That means stopping distances are longer, crashes can be more serious, and other road users may not anticipate how quickly an e-bike can approach an intersection, driveway or pedestrian.
Please:
✅ Wear a helmet
✅ Obey stop signs and traffic signals
✅ Ride predictably
✅ Use lights after dark
✅ Yield to pedestrians
✅ Keep both hands available for controlling the bicycle
✅ Don't ride while impaired
✅ Don't carry passengers unless the bicycle is specifically equipped with an appropriate passenger seat
✅ Keep your e-bike properly maintained
✅ Slow down around pedestrians, children and other path users
🚓 A FINAL WORD FROM THE BELLBROOK POLICE DEPARTMENT
E-bikes are a legitimate and increasingly popular form of transportation. Our goal is education, voluntary compliance and everyone's safety.
Whether you're riding an e-bike to school, work, the park, a friend's house or simply enjoying a ride through Bellbrook, please know what class of e-bike you have and understand where it can legally be operated.
Know your class. Know the rules. Ride safely.
