The Electric Bicycle
Transp. § 11-117.1 — pedals, 750 watts or less, and three classes
In Maryland, an electric bicycle is a vehicle designed to be operated by human power with the assistance of an electric motor, with fully operable pedals, two or three wheels, and a motor rated at 750 watts or less.
- Class 1: the motor assists only while the rider pedals, and stops assisting at 20 miles per hour.
- Class 2: the motor assists whether or not the rider pedals, and stops assisting at 20 miles per hour.
- Class 3: the motor assists only while the rider pedals, and stops assisting at 28 miles per hour.
It is a bicycle under the Vehicle Laws. The Transportation Article's definition of a bicycle includes an electric bicycle.
Where a bicycle may not ride. Not on a roadway where the posted maximum speed limit is more than 50 miles per hour, except that a rider on the adjacent shoulder may enter the roadway to turn left, to cross an intersection, or where a turn or merge lane breaks the shoulder; and not on an expressway, except on an adjacent bicycle path or way the State Highway Administration has approved.
Bike lanes. Where there is a bike lane paved to a smooth surface, the rider uses it and not the roadway, except to pass, to prepare for a left turn, or to get around debris, a hazard, or a marking that breaks the lane.
Sidewalks. Unless a local ordinance prohibits it, a person may ride a bicycle on a sidewalk or sidewalk area. For this rule a bicycle does not include a moped.
Helmets under 16. A person under the age of 16 riding a bicycle, as operator or passenger, on a highway, bicycle way or other property open to the public wears a helmet meeting a recognized safety standard. The rule is enforced by a warning and educational materials.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionAny bike with a motor is an electric bicycle | What the law actually doesOnly one with fully operable pedals, two or three wheels, a motor of 750 watts or less, and one of the three classes |
| The assumptionA bicycle can go on any road | What the law actually doesNot on a roadway posted above 50 miles per hour, outside the shoulder cases, and not on an expressway |
Mopeds, motor scooters, local ordinances and trail rules are not all on this page. What a particular situation carries is a question for a licensed Maryland attorney.
Sources for this section (5)
- Md. Code, Transp. § 11-117.1 — Electric bicycle defined; the three classes
- Md. Code, Transp. § 11-104 — Bicycle defined
- Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1205.1 — Bicycles on high-speed roadways and in bike lanes
- Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1207.1 — Bicycle helmets for riders under 16
- Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1103 — Driving on sidewalks; bicycles on sidewalks
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.