Walk It Through: The Commute By Electric Bicycle
A new electric bicycle, a pickup behind it, a light that will not change, and the ride home after dark.
A commuter buys an electric bicycle with pedals, a seat, and a motor that helps only while the rider pedals.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One commute on one electric bicycle. Where electric bicycles may ride on paths, local ordinances, and a crash with a car or a pedestrian are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Electric bicycleA two or three wheeled device recognized as a bicycle, with fully operable pedals, a seat or saddle, and an electric motor of not more than 750 watts, in one of three classes.
- Safe passing distanceOn a road with one lane each way, the distance a driver passing a bicycle rider keeps, not less than 3 feet, crossing the center line or passing in a no passing zone to do it when safe.
- Right of way in a crosswalkWhere no signal is operating, the driver yields to a pedestrian in a crosswalk on the driver's half of the road, or approaching so closely from the other half as to be in danger.