LANSING — Michigan lawmakers are moving to restrict children from riding electric bicycles on public roads, sidewalks and trails following a series of serious crashes involving young riders and increasingly powerful electric two-wheelers.
Under Senate Bill 1156, children younger than 14 would be prohibited from operating an e-bike on a public road, sidewalk or trail anywhere in Michigan.
Teenagers ages 14 through 17 could continue riding, but they would need written permission from a parent or guardian and would be required to wear a helmet.
The legislation from state Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, comes amid growing concern about young riders operating electric two-wheelers capable of traveling much faster than traditional bicycles.
But there’s an important wrinkle in Michigan’s growing e-bike safety debate:
Some of the fastest machines being called “e-bikes” aren’t legally e-bikes at all. They are closer to electric motorcycles — commonly called e-motos — and already fall under different rules.
That distinction was highlighted this week after two 13-year-old boys were critically injured in Bloomfield Township when the electric vehicle they were riding was struck by a pickup truck while they were crossing Telegraph Road.
Police described the vehicle as an e-moto, rather than a conventional e-bike.
Two 13-Year-Olds Critically Injured
The Bloomfield Township crash occurred Sept. 7 at Telegraph and Hickory Grove roads.
The two boys were traveling west along the Hickory Grove safety path and entered the crosswalk across southbound Telegraph when they were struck by a Ford F-250.
Witnesses told police they believed the truck had a green light. The 35-year-old Rochester Hills driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.
Both boys were hospitalized in critical condition.
Bloomfield Township Police Lt. Nick Soley told WXYZ that the vehicle the boys were riding would be classified as an e-moto and shouldn’t have been operated by the teenagers with those capabilities.
The crash has intensified questions about whether parents — and young riders themselves — understand the difference between an electric bicycle and a much more powerful electric motorcycle.
A Bicycle That Can Travel Nearly 30 MPH
Michigan law divides legal e-bikes into three classes.
Class 1 e-bikes provide electric assistance while the rider pedals, with motor assistance ending at 20 mph.
Class 2 bikes can propel the bicycle using a throttle without pedaling, but motor assistance also ends at 20 mph.
Class 3 bikes provide pedal assistance at speeds up to 28 mph.
Michigan already prohibits children younger than 14 from operating Class 3 e-bikes. Riders and passengers younger than 18 also must wear helmets on Class 3 bikes.
Runestad’s legislation would extend the under-14 prohibition to all three classes of e-bikes.
“I’ve seen too many freak accidents where young children wind up seriously harmed while riding one of these e-bikes,” Runestad said. “They aren’t the traditional bicycles that I rode when I was a kid — these bikes can have way too much power for young children to be able to manage.”
When An E-Bike Becomes An E-Moto
The distinction between an e-bike and an e-moto is becoming increasingly important.
Under Michigan law, an electric bicycle must have operable pedals and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts.
Motor assistance also cannot exceed 28 mph under the state’s three-class e-bike system.
Machines exceeding those limits can instead fall under Michigan laws covering motorcycles, mopeds or off-road vehicles.
That means an electric machine capable of traveling 35 or 40 mph isn’t simply a faster Class 3 e-bike.
It may legally be a motor vehicle.
For parents shopping online, however, the distinction isn’t necessarily obvious. High-powered electric machines can look similar to bicycles, and the terms e-bike and e-moto are sometimes used interchangeably by riders and sellers.
That creates a potential safety problem if parents believe they’re buying their child a bicycle when the machine has performance characteristics closer to a motorcycle.
Michigan Communities Already Cracking Down
Runestad’s proposal comes as Michigan communities are developing their own rules for electric bikes and scooters.
Grand Haven has restricted e-bikes and e-scooters from its boardwalk, while Lowell officials have discussed new rules governing rider ages, speeds and where electric bikes can operate.
Bloomfield Township officials also are considering what additional action may be necessary following this week’s crash.
The growing patchwork of local restrictions raises a broader question for Lansing: Should Michigan establish clearer statewide standards rather than leaving individual communities to develop different rules?
What Happens If A Kid Breaks The Law?
Runestad’s legislation would use escalating penalties.
A first violation would result in a warning and an order to attend a safety education class.
A second violation could bring a fine of up to $100 and possible impoundment of the e-bike. Additional violations would carry tougher penalties.
Runestad argues that children need sufficient judgment and physical ability to control machines capable of traveling significantly faster than conventional bicycles.
“Due to the fast speeds e-bikes are capable of reaching, riders must possess the required mental and physical capabilities to ride safely — skills that are often underdeveloped in young children,” Runestad said.
“This is just a simple safety check regarding the public use of these bikes.”
Is Michigan Regulating The Right Vehicles?
Senate Bill 1156 was formally introduced Sept. 10 and is beginning the legislative process.
But the debate could ultimately become larger than deciding how old someone should be before riding an e-bike.
Michigan may also have to determine whether parents and consumers can easily distinguish legal e-bikes from high-powered e-motos, whether existing motor-vehicle laws covering those machines are being adequately enforced and whether clearer statewide rules are needed.
For parents considering buying an electric bike for a child, there’s an immediate question worth asking:
Is the machine you’re buying actually an electric bicycle — or is it an electric motorcycle that happens to look like one?
