NYS E-bike Laws: Important E-Bike Laws For Riding Within New York

The regulations surrounding e-bikes in New York are probably the most complex in the country.

The e-bike rules for New York City are stricter than anywhere else in the state. So, some things you can get away with anywhere else within the state would be punishable within New York City.
If you love e-bikes or adult tricycles in New York, however, you must know the basic e-bike laws relating to the classification of your e-bike, your age, and your helmet.

Various Has You Covered

Fortunately, we at Various, for the sake of our many clients in the state, have gone through the legislation and identified the primary laws you should know when riding your e-bike or tricycle out there in New York.

 What Is an Ebike? (E-Bike Classification)

The US Product Safety Act defines e-bikes as “low-speed electric bicycles”. The act stipulates that the “low-speed electric bicycle” must have fully operable pedals, a motor that produces less than 750W of power, and a maximum top speed of 20 mph when powered only by the electric motor.

Your bike is considered, under the law, to be an “e-bike” if:

1. It is a low-speed electric bicycle.
2. It must have fully operable pedals.
3. The motor cannot produce more than 750W of power
4. And the top speed cannot exceed 20mph when powered only by the motor.

What Does the State of New York Say?

New York, Florida, and many other states in the nation have further classified e-bikes into three classes. The classification is based on their top speed and level of motor assistance.

Class 1 E-Bikes

A class 1 e-bike is any e-bike with a top speed of 20 miles per hour (mph) and only provides pedal assistance. In other words, the motor only works when you are pedaling.

Class 2 E-Bikes

A class 2 e-bike has a top speed of 20 mph and can be propelled without pedaling using a throttle. In other words, the throttle allows you to move the bike without pedaling but must have a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour.

Class 3 E-Bikes

A class 3 e-bike has a top speed of 25mph and only provides pedal assistance. These bikes can assist you up to 25 mph, and because of their higher speed, they are subject to more regulation.

General Laws For Riding Your Bike in the State of New York.

There are four main regulations to keep in mind when riding your e-bike within the state of New York: the age limit, the helmet laws, accepted riding areas, and registration and licensing.

Age

To ride any kind of e-bike in New York, you must be 16 years old or older.

Helmets

Helmets are mandatory in New York if you are riding a class 3 e-bike and also for 16- and 17-year-olds operating e-scooters.
For class 1 and class 2 bikes, helmets are not mandatory, but the state strongly recommends all riders wear helmets.

Where to Ride

E-bikes are permitted on roads with speed limits of 25 mph or less and are encouraged to use bike lanes when available.
Riding on sidewalks is prohibited except in certain areas of the state where local laws provide exceptions.

Registration and Licensing

You are not required to register, license, or take insurance for e-bikes in the state of New York.
Feel free to come back and refer to this table for a summary of the main e-bike regulations in New York.

New York City Specific Regulations

For e-bike riders in New York City, some e-bike legislations differ slightly from those in the state overall.
New York City is more open to all classes of bikes; the helmet laws are a little more stringent. Here’s a closer look.

 1. Permissions

All three classes of e-bikes are allowed in NYC. You can ride any class 1, class 2, or class 3 e-bike on bike lanes and streets as long as you respect the speed limit of 28 mph.
Riding on sidewalks, however, is prohibited.

Helmet Requirements

Helmets are mandatory within New York City if you are riding a Class 3 e-bike, regardless of your age.
Also, working cyclists (e.g., delivery workers) aged 16 and 17 must wear helmets when operating Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes.
It's important to note that local municipalities may impose additional regulations, so it's advisable to consult local laws for any specific rules in your area.

Get an Ebike for Your New York Aventures

Want a bike that will give you a consistent performance and not get you into trouble with the state?
Check out Viribus’ BZ1 Step-Thru Electric Bike. This bike provides both pedal assist and throttle assist, which makes it a class 2 e-bike.

This bike gives you a bit of everything and is exactly the bike you need for your daily commute, a little bit of fun, and also for practical uses like grocery shopping or running errands.
Check out some main features.

• A 48V, 500W (peak 1000W) motor
• Low step-through frame for easy mounting.
• Pedal Assist Intelligent with 0 ~ 5 level pedal assist
• Powered by a 48V 13A, 624 WH high-tech lithium battery
• Reaches a top speed of 20 Mph with throttle, 24 Mph with pedal assist

The frame is made of 6061 Aluminum frames, with rims made of aluminum alloy
Both Spring fork and front suspension

What About Tricycles?

In New York State, tricycles are treated like bicycles under the law, and so they are generally subject to the same laws as bicycles.
Here are some regulations to keep in mind when riding your tricycle in New York

Seating and Passengers

In New York, you are prohibited from carrying more persons than your tricycle is designed and equipped to accommodate.
You must use a permanent, regular seat that is meant for a tricycle.

Helmet Use

In New York State, all bicyclists under the age of 14 must wear safety-certified bicycle helmets when operating or riding as passengers.
This requirement extends to tricycle riders within the specified age group.

Park Regulations

In New York City parks, bicycles or tricycles are permitted only in designated areas. However, you cannot ride your tricycle in vegetated areas, on bridle paths, pedestrian ways, park paths, sitting or play areas, or any other unauthorized zones.

Pedicabs

If you use your tricycle as a pedicab (that’s a bicycle taxi), specific regulations may apply. You will be required to adhere to all state and local laws governing the operation of bicycles.

Again, always remember that local municipalities may have additional regulations, so it's advisable to consult local laws for any specific rules in your area.

The Tricycle for New York

The state of New York has less stringent rules on tricycles, which means you can choose from a wider variety.

However, Virus offers a collection of tricycles that will perfectly meet your needs, whether you are looking for a safer vehicle for your travels, a more eco-friendly means of transport, a more comfortable riding experience, or a combination of all three and more!

Meet the Viribus TG1 Electric Tricycles.

Viribus’ TG1 line is the first line of Viribus electric tricycles, and it constitutes three models: the TG1 Electric Tricycle (released in 2021), The TG1 Plus (released in 2022), and the latest, the TG1 Pro Electric Tricycle (which was just released in 2024).

What sets these Various tricycles in the TG1 line apart is that they are specifically designed to meet the riding needs of adult riders, enabling them to cover more distance than before while keeping them comfortable and safe. 

You can always read more about TG1Tricycles to discover what they offer. You will definitely find a match!