At what age can I riding electric bikes? (National laws)

At what age can I riding electric bikes? (National laws)

E-bikes initially generated a lot of buzz for their potential to help people ride into old age. Creaky joints and worn out knees are no longer a problem if there’s a nice lithium battery to help out

However, electric bicycles (also known as e-bikes) have found a market among the young. They fall somewhere between a bicycle and a moped, providing a means of getting around for a generation that often relies on lifts or streamlined bus services.

However, minimum age limits are often unclear, especially where government is decentralised. The discerning cyclist’s handy guide outlines key e-bike laws – and lets you know exactly where these rules apply.

Can anyone Riding Electric Bikes?
Not everyone can Riding Electric Bikes.EAPCs (electrically assisted pedal cycles or e-bikes) can travel fast, so many countries impose minimum age limits, even if a driver’s licence isn’t required. In Denmark, certain U.S. states and Canadian provinces, you can’t set off on an e-bike unless you wear a helmet.

Surprisingly, some regions even classify e-bikes as motorised vehicles. In these rare cases, you need to treat your bike like a car. This means obtaining any appropriate licences, insurance and number plates.

How old is too old to Riding Electric Bikes?
Most people are able to Riding Electric Bikes before they are legally able to drive. In the UK, you need to be at least 14 years old, while in the EU, the minimum age hovers around this figure, depending on the country/region.

In the US, there are no blanket rules for e-bike riding. The federal government has yet to introduce national legislation, so it’s up to each state government to set its own minimum age.

Look closely at state laws and you’ll see just how much e-bike rules vary. For example, Arizona has no restrictions on e-bike use, while in Idaho, children cannot Riding Electric Bikes until their sixteenth birthday.

If you’d like to find out more about global restrictions, read on.

What age can I Riding Electric Bikes in the UK?
In the UK, you need to be at least 14 years old to Riding Electric Bikes. However, it’s important to note that you must be 18 or over to hire an e-bike from the public hire scheme.

However, if you are a parent or carer and would like to take a ride with your family in one of London’s leafy parks, you can hire a TFL Santander bike for ‘additional users’ aged 14 and over. You are responsible for your child’s use of the bike and will need to check that this TFL policy is still in force before riding.

Some states in the USA have no age requirement, while others mandate the wearing of a helmet!
At what age can I Riding Electric Bikes in the US?
This is where things get a little complicated. There is no universally recognised minimum age to Riding Electric Bikes in the US. This means that in some parts of the country, the age limit is around fourteen. In other cases, you can ride on a battery from birth – at least in theory.

However, most states have uniformly enacted one legal requirement. Delaware, Florida, Maine, North Carolina, Maryland, and Montana require riders under sixteen to wear a helmet before riding an e-bike.

In New Mexico, Indiana, and other states, this requirement is in place until the age of eighteen. E-bikes in the United States typically reach speeds of up to 25 mph, so even if you’re over eighteen (or a few decades), a helmet should be a concern.

If you need more detailed state-by-state information, we recommend you visit the People for Bikes website. Their handy fact sheet (created to push for clearer legislation) lists e-bike rules and bylaws in all fifty states.

They even discuss their use in the country’s vast national parks, in case you wish to ease your way through the redwood forests of Yosemite or take a spin around the Rockies.

At what age can I Riding Electric Bikes in Canada?

No two provinces in Canada are the same, and neither are the country’s e-bike age laws. On picturesque Prince Edward Island, e-bikes are classified as mopeds, which means you must be at least 16 years old and have a riding licence.

If you want to ride in leafy Quebec, you’ll also need a driver’s licence. Other provinces, such as coastal New Brunswick, have no minimum age.

Interestingly, Canada’s famously bike-centric cities like Montreal and Vancouver are adapting to the e-bike boom in different ways – it pays to make sure you’re aware of these requirements.

In Ontario, underage riding is punishable by a fine of up to $500, so it may not only be illegal for you to use an e-bike. It’s going to be very expensive.

At what age can I Riding Electric Bikes in Australia?
Although Australia is a vast country, the minimum age limit is similar in all regions. In Queensland, riders under the age of 16 are not allowed to ride a bike without supervision, while in Western Australia they are not allowed to Riding Electric Bikes at all.

In Tasmania, you must be at least 16 years old and wear a helmet. In Victoria, the minimum age is lower at 12. In New South Wales, there is currently no age limit. The Northern Territory has the strictest requirements and riders must be at least 18 years old and wear a securely fitted bicycle helmet.

What age can I Riding Electric Bikes in Europe?
Although the 27 EU member states agreed on a key directive on e-bike power more than three years ago, the minimum age proved to be a much trickier topic. In countries such as Belgium and Denmark, cyclists of any age can ride 250W bikes on the road.

In fact, in the latter, the only age-restricted bikes are the new “high-speed e-bikes” – permitted on cycle paths but capable of travelling at 28mph. For these bikes, the Danish authorities require the rider to be at least fifteen years old.

Because of this discrepancy, it’s worth checking directly with the authorities in any country you’ll be visiting, especially if you’re travelling along pan-European cycle routes like EuroVelo.

Do you need an e-bike licence?
It depends on where you ride. In the UK, e-bikes (or EPACs, to maintain their official status) don’t need a licence as long as you’re over the minimum age limit and your bike isn’t modified. In the US, this varies from state to state, with some states categorising e-bikes in the same class as Cadillacs.

In continental Europe, the EU Directive sets out the basic rules for power and speed limits for e-bikes, but does not specify whether users need a valid driver’s licence. Therefore, all 27 EU countries have e-bike licensing laws that you need to check.

Do I need to wear a helmet on an e-bike?
When it comes to wearing a helmet on an e-bike, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a universal law. Whilst the Highway Code recommends that all cyclists wear helmets, there is no legal requirement to wear a helmet in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

However, research has shown that wearing a seatbelt significantly reduces the risk of serious head injuries and, as injuries caused by e-bikes can be much more serious, the lack of a legal requirement doesn’t mean you should put off buying an e-bike.

In some EU countries, the rules regarding helmets are stricter. Italy and Ireland both require e-bike riders under the age of eighteen to wear a helmet. This is in line with legislation in the United States, where in many states it is illegal for teenagers to ride a bike without a helmet.

More rules about e-bikes
So, are you old enough to legally ride a bike and own an e-bike? Below, you’ll find a roundup of more general rules covering everything from electricity to pavement and bike lane use.

You may have noticed that being located on the same continent – or even in the same country – doesn’t

You may have noticed by now that being located on the same continent – or even in the same country – doesn’t always mean that passengers are governed by the same set of laws. We comply with the UK, US, EU and Asian e-bike rules, so you can understand e-bike ownership wherever you’re reading this.

UK e-bike rules
If you haven’t already read Discerning Cyclist’s article on the UK laws to know, here’s a short résumé.

The most widely known UK e-bike laws revolve around the power and speed of the bike. The maximum power should be 250W and the motor must not propel the bike over 15.5 mph. The throttle cannot propel the bike over 3.7 mph.

This is because an e-bike must be powered primarily by pedals. Otherwise, it will not be classified as a bicycle.

The bike you choose must also display its power output on the frame and everyone must be aware of the motor manufacturer, maximum speed and battery voltage.

As long as it meets all the regulations, you can Riding Electric Bikes anywhere you can ride a pedal bike. This means roads, cycle paths, trails and bridleways, but definitely not footpaths.

Finally, as we’ve explored, you must be at least 14 years old to Riding Electric Bikes, or usually 18 if the bike is part of a ‘city bike’ scheme!

US e-bike rules
There are very few federal e-bike rules in the US, but one that applies regardless of your state flag is that e-bikes can only travel at speeds of up to 20 mph on motor power alone. If accompanied by pedalling, the maximum permitted speed increases to 28 mph.

E-bike laws around the world
According to China’s state-owned publication The Sixth Voice, an average of nearly 30 million e-bikes are rolled out in China each year – but what are the rules for riders? In China, the definition and regulation of e-bike use varies from region to region. This is because national cycling legislation can be superseded by local laws.

In Beijing, for example, e-bike users are not only required to register their e-bikes with the local government, but also need a driving licence. According to statistics, the number of registered e-bikes in the country has exceeded 200 million.

In Japan, registration is also mandatory and the maximum speed limit is 24 mph. In the past, bicycle retailers have been prosecuted for selling faster imported models, which are classified as motor vehicles and require a licence under Japanese law

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