05/28/2026
📣PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
With national eBike sales tripling over the past 5️⃣years, these devices offer convenient, efficient, and fun transportation. HOWEVER, they also raise important safety concerns.
✔️More than 20,000 eBike riders are injured each year in the United States, with over 30 percent of those incidents involving motor vehicles.
Under Ohio law, the three-class eBike system helps determine where and how riders may legally operate:
Class 1 Pedal-assist only (motor works only while pedaling) 20 mph
➡️ Roads,bike lanes, sidepaths, and most shared-use/multi-use paths unless a local rule prohibits them
Class 2 Has a throttle and/or pedal assist 20 mph
(Generally the same access as Class 1)
➡️Roads, bike lanes, and most shared-use paths unless locally restricted
Class 3 Pedal-assist only 28 mph
➡️Roads and bike lanes, but generally not on shared-use recreational paths unless the path is adjacent to a roadway or local authorities specifically allow it
A few important Ohio-specific rules:
❗️❗️Riders must be at least 16 years old to operate a Class 3 e-bike.
⛑️Helmets are required for Class 3 riders and passengers.
No Ohio driver’s license, registration, or insurance is required for legal Class 1–3 e-bikes.
For the actual statute, see Ohio Revised Code §4511.522 and related definitions in §4511.01.
Common safety recommendations include:
🛑Wearing a properly fitted helmet
🛑Using lights and reflective gear
Following traffic laws❗️
📱Avoiding distracted riding
Checking brakes and tires regularly 🛞
🚸Slowing down in pedestrian-heavy areas 🚸
⭐️For younger riders and new users, education on braking distance, acceleration, and roadway positioning is especially important because eBikes handle differently from traditional bikes⭐️
