Helmet laws for electric bikes
Summary: States are adopting electric bike classification and rules laws that sometimes include helmet requirements
for all ebike riders or for Class 3 (28 MPH maximum speed) riders.
The
model ebike legislation being promoted to states by PeopleForBikes and the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association
includes a provision for mandatory helmet use for all riders of Class 3 ebikes, the pedal assist bikes capable of up to
28 MPH. The list below is compiled from the
PeopleForBikes fact sheets on each state. Class 1
ebikes are pedal assist bikes capable of no more than 20 MPH, and Class 2 ebikes have same maximum speed but have a
throttle in addition to pedal assist.
The International Mountain Bike Association has
a fact sheet that covers the differences in ebike classes.
Note: Some states in the list below have bicycle helmet laws that apply to ebikes, and many localities do. We have
a page listing those laws. We have included the state requirements for all bicycles including
ebikes below. For a list that excludes regular bike helmet laws, see
this PeopleForBikes
spreadsheet. They have additional detail on the ebike laws. Most ebike laws requiring helmets for riders also cover
passengers.
| Jurisdiction |
Covers |
| Alabama |
All classes, all ages |
| Alaska |
Local bike requirements only |
| Arizona |
Local bike requirements only |
| Arkansas |
Class 3 riders under 21 years old |
| California |
Class 1&2, under 18. Class 3, all ages |
| Colorado |
Class 3, under 21 |
| Connecticut |
Class 1 & 2, under 16. Class 3, all ages |
| Delaware |
All classes, under 18 |
| District of Columbia - Washington DC |
All classes, under 16 |
| Florida |
All classes, under 16 |
| Georgia |
Class 1 & 2, under 16. Class 3, all ages |
| Hawaii |
All classes, under 16 |
| Idaho |
No requirement |
| Illinois |
Local bike requirements only |
| Indiana |
Class 3 under 18 |
| Iowa |
No requirement |
| Kansas |
Local bike requirements only |
| Kentucky |
Local bike requirements only |
| Louisiana |
Class 3, all ages |
| Maine |
All classes, under 16 |
| Maryland |
All classes, under 16 |
| Massachusetts |
All classes, all ages |
| Michigan |
Class 1 & 2 local bike requirements. Class 3, under 16 |
| Minnesota |
No requirement |
| Mississippi |
Local bike requirements only |
| Missouri |
Local bike requirements only |
| Montana |
Local bike requirements only |
| Nebraska |
No requirement |
| Nevada |
Local bike requirements only |
| New Hampshire |
Class 1 & 2, under 16. Class 3, under 18 |
| New Jersey |
All classes, under 17 |
| New Mexico |
Moped law, all classes, under 18 |
| New York |
Class 1 and 2, state and local bike helmet laws |
| North Carolina |
All classes, under 16 |
| North Dakota |
"Motorized Bicycles" No requirement |
| Ohio |
Class 1 & 2, local requirements. Class 3, all ages |
| Oklahoma |
All classes, local requirements only |
| Oregon |
All classes, under 16 |
| Pennsylvania |
All classes, under 12 |
| Rhode Island |
All classes, under 16 |
| South Carolina |
No requirement |
| South Dakota |
No requirement |
| Tennessee |
Class 1 & 2, under 16. Class 3, all ages |
| Texas |
All classes, local requirements only |
| Utah |
No requirement |
| Vermont |
No requirement |
| Virginia |
Class 1 & 2, local requirements. Class 3, all ages |
| Washington State |
All classes, local requirements only |
| West Virginia |
Class 1 and 3, under 15 plus local requirements |
| Wisconsin |
Local requirements only |
| Wyoming |
No requirement |
Albany County NY has adopted an
all ages ebike and escooter law.
Here is our page on
local and state bike helmet laws.
We have
a page on ebike helmets with more information on them.
Here is
a fact sheet on ebike class definitions.