According to Colorado law, e-bikes are required to fall under one of the three classifications based on speed and pedal assist.
Stock photo
Hernan D. Caputo
As the holiday season brought toys and gifts to families across Douglas County, there are some gifts that municipalities across Douglas County want residents to be more cognizant of and know the law.
Over the years, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-dirt bikes and other e-devices have grown in popularity and are often seen being ridden through neighborhoods and streets.
In 2022, there were 1.1 million e-bikes sold in the U.S., which is nearly four times as many as were sold in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The department also stated that in the U.S., e-bikes had the highest utilization rate of shared micromobility.
In addition to providing an easy and accessible way to move around communities, the use of e-bikes has also shown a positive impact on the environment by cutting down carbon emissions.
Just as the use of e-bikes has increased, so has the number of e-bike accidents. An article in the National Library of Medicine states that the frequency of injuries saw an increase of nearly 90% from 2019 to 2022 and more than 10% of patients required hospital admission.
Sheriff Darren Weekly said in a social post that he is concerned by the rise in children riding e-bikes and e-dirt bikes on public roadways.
“These machines may look like toys, but they are powerful and can be extremely dangerous in inexperienced hands,” Weekly said. “We’ve already seen two tragic e-bike deaths in Douglas County involving adults, along with several incidents and injuries investigated by our school resource officers.”
In addition to the state law prohibiting any person from knowingly modifying an electric bicycle to change its speed, Colorado law states that e-bikes are required to fall under one of the three classifications based on speed and pedal assist.
Class 1 and 2 e-bikes have a maximum of 20 mph and may be used on any bicycle, pedestrian or multi-use paths.
Class 1 is a pedal-assist bike and Class 2 is a pedal-assist bike with a throttle.
Class 3 e-bikes are pedal-assist only and have a maximum speed of 28 mph. Additionally, riders must be 16 years of age or older to operate and are not allowed on sidewalks, paths or trails.
An electric scooter is defined in law as a device that weighs less than 100 pounds, has handlebars, is powered by an electric motor and has a maximum speed of 20 mph. While these are allowed on roads, they are not allowed on sidewalks, paths or trails.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office stated that low-powered scooters require a valid driver’s license and an electric motorcycle requires a motorcycle endorsement. Both require registration and insurance.
The sheriff’s office also shared on social media that the misuse of electric motorcycles can lead to impound fees and mandatory court appearances.
In an effort to help keep those riding e-bikes safe, as well as pedestrians, communities throughout Douglas County are cracking down on enforcing the rules and regulations.
Town of Castle Rock
In the last year, the Town of Castle Rock enacted a new ordinance that made changes to the town’s traffic regulations and laws to address the use of electric and motorized vehicles.
The updated ordinance clarifies that all off-highway vehicles, including dirt bikes, unlicensed electric motorcycles and other similar recreational vehicles, are prohibited on the town’s streets, roadways, paths, trails and sidewalks.
Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles are currently the only e-bike classification allowed on town bike, pedestrian and multi-use paths.
The ordinance also increased penalties and fines for the unlawful use of these vehicles, which includes a $250 fine for parents or guardians who knowingly allow their children to operate or ride an off-highway vehicle in the town.
Highlands Ranch
The Highlands Ranch Metro District has partnered with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to enforce the metro district’s usage restrictions, which are based on manufacturer specifications.
According to the metro district’s website, e-vehicles that have an unassisted maximum speed higher than 20 miles per hour are prohibited on metro district property. This includes those that have a regulator installed or are connected to an app that can maintain the speed.
Other e-vehicles that are prohibited are those that exceed 200 pounds, 36 inches in width, electric motorcycles, mopeds, low-power motor scooters, electric dirt bikes and golf carts.
Class 3 e-bikes and beyond can reach speeds up to 28 miles per hour while electrically assisted and therefore are better suited for bike lanes.
Electric vehicles such as lightweight e-scooters or e-skateboards are allowed on trails or pedestrian paths if they have a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour, are less than three feet in width and under 200 pounds.
City of Lone Tree
According to the City of Lone Tree website, E-dirt bikes and e-motorcycles are not allowed on sidewalks or pedestrian paths, trails and open space. Additionally, e-scooters are not allowed on sidewalks, pedestrian paths and trails.
Whether it’s an e-motorcycle or e-scooter, a driver’s license and insurance are required, as well as ensuring it is a registered vehicle with a sticker.
Commander Joe Deland with the Lone Tree Police Department told Colorado Community Media that the department’s priority is to ensure the safety of the community and work to prevent crime and accidents.
“At this time, our department is focused on education first as we want riders to understand the rules for riding on streets, trails and pathways, especially as electric bikes and other electric machines become more popular,” Deland said. “By helping parents and riders know what is allowed, we can keep everyone riding safely before any enforcement is needed.”
Town of Parker
Last year, the Town of Parker’s Parks and Recreation stated it received an increasing number of questions regarding the use of dirt-bikes, e-bikes, scooters and other devices on the town’s sidewalks, roadways, trails and within public parks.
According to Parker’s Municipal Code, e-bikes, electric stand-up scooters and ADA mobility devices are allowed on sidewalks and roadways. Additionally, Class 3 e-bikes are only allowed on roadways and users must be 16 years old or older to operate.
However, dirt bikes and motorbikes, whether they are electric-powered or gas-powered, are not allowed on town public property.
The town’s Parks and Recreation website states that regardless of the e-vehicle or device, a strict 15 mph speed limit always applies to trails and sidewalks.
Safety tips
Similar to operating a motor vehicle, those riding electric vehicles should also follow traffic laws, ride in the same direction as traffic, wear appropriate safety gear, limit distractions, make eye contact with drivers and use lights.
The higher the speed, the higher the risk of injury, so it’s important for riders to know that e-bikes are heavier and often harder to control.
While on trails, many jurisdictions encourage following trail etiquette. For example, all e-vehicles should yield the right of way to pedestrians as well as slow down and announce themselves before passing on the left of an individual or group.
