Riders in New York State must follow strict rules when using electric bikes or scooters—including who can ride, where they can go, and how fast they’re allowed to travel.
Nobody under the age of 16 is permitted to operate either an e-bike or an e-scooter in the state. Helmets are required for 16- and 17-year-olds using e-scooters and strongly recommended for all other riders.
E-bikes come in three classes:
- Class 1: Pedal-assist only, with a motor that stops helping at 20 mph.
- Class 2: Throttle-enabled, without pedaling, also capped at 20 mph.
- Class 3: For New York City only—throttle-based and limited to 25 mph.
Electric scooters must weigh under 100 pounds and have a maximum speed of 20 mph, though New York sets a legal limit of 15 mph for their use.
E-bikes and e-scooters cannot be used on sidewalks or roads with speed limits above 30 mph. Riders must travel in single file and use bike lanes whenever available. Operating while impaired or carrying passengers is illegal.
Licensing and registration rules vary by vehicle. E-bikes of all classes do not need a license, license plate, or DMV registration, though riders must be at least 16. Mopeds—classified separately—do require a driver’s license, plate, and in some cases, inspection and registration.
A Consumer Product Safety Commission study found that e-bikes had higher crash and injury rates than traditional bikes, particularly among riders not wearing helmets. E-scooter riders had even higher head injury risks.
For more information, visit https://nybc.net/e-bike.
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