The use of electric bicycles, or e-bikes, has grown rapidly in recent years, and Ohio is no exception. Nationally, sales of e-bikes have skyrocketed, rising from 250,000 units sold in 2018 to over 1.1 million in 2022. This is an incredibly positive trend as academic research shows that e-bikes are shifting people out of vehicles for everyday needs.
However, with that increase in usage, there has also been a surge in crashes involving e-bikes, with younger Ohioans being the most vulnerable in these crashes. While crashes involving e-bikes are not tracked separately from other crashes involving standard bikes, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence from around Ohio to support this. This story from the Dayton Daily News highlights that Dayton Children’s Hospital has reported an 80% increase in the number of children being treated due to e-bike and e-scooter incidents.
What steps can communities take to help maintain the positive growth in usage of e-bikes while also promoting user safety and the safety of pedestrians?
Ohio has had regulations in place around e-bikes since 2019. Ohio law establishes three classes of e-bikes, Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. Ohio law permits Class 1 and Class 2 bikes (which travel up to 20mph) on multi-use trails. Class 3 e-bikes (which travel up to 28mph) are banned from trails and restricted to users aged 16 or older. All e-bikes are banned from running with the motor engaged on sidewalks.
Some local officials however believe that most members of the riding public are unfamiliar with the state law. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) does have promotional materials and educational resources available to help promote e-bike user safety, and a number of states and localities across the U.S. have launched public service campaigns.
However, a number of communities have passed or are considering local ordinances that establish greater restrictions or outright bans.
Parma, near Cleveland, passed a new ordinance in September which mirrors the state ban on use of e-bikes on sidewalks, and if used, riders must yield to pedestrians and give an audible warning when passing. Parma’s ordinance also mandates helmets for all classes of e-bike (state law only requires them for Class 3), and requires all e-bikes be equipped with lights, reflectors, and bells or horns.
New Albany, a suburb of Columbus, similarly enacted new regulations on October 21. Like Parma, New Albany has banned e-bikes on sidewalks, and limits all e-bikes to 10mph on shared use paths. Riders under 18 will be required to wear helmets, and bikes will be required to be equipped with lights and reflectors (but only before dawn and after dusk). New Albany’s ordinance includes fines for violations of the rules (parents can be cited if their children violate the rules).
While no Ohio communities have initiated outright bans on e-bikes, several communities in Florida and Illinois have, including Key Biscayne (FL) and Glenview (IL).