Maple Grove Working on E-Bike Awareness and Enforcement
Maple Grove city leaders are trying to educate the public about what is legal and safe about operating electric-assisted bicycles in the city.
“We want to make sure that, when everybody’s out in the community, they’re having a safe time,” said Officer David Gordon with the Maple Grove Police Department. “We don’t want individuals just operating an electric-assisted bicycle in a reckless or dangerous manner, where other people are going to feel unsafe.”
According to Minnesota law, anyone operating an e-bike should be 15 or older, and an e-bike is an electric-assisted bicycle that has pedals for powering the bike, too, just like a traditional bicycle.
“Just like the rules with a regular bicycle, all the same rules still apply. You want to be respectful of other people on the trails when operating an electric-assisted bicycle. Give them a warning before coming up or passing them,” said Officer Gordon. “You don’t want to be startling them or causing an issue.”
Public safety officials also remind residents that e-moto bikes are not allowed on public property at any time.
Under state law, e-moto bikes are not allowed on public property.
‘It’s kind of an easy tell when you’re looking at it: if it has stationary pegs, like a traditional motorcycle, that’s not going to be an electric-assisted bicycle,” said Gordon. “Those motorcycle ones have motors over 750 watts. That’s too large. State statute requires that it be under 750-watt output. Those motorcycles will do 30-40 miles per hour, and that’s too fast. State statute says an electric-assisted bicycle can not exceed 28 miles per hour, so that’s the type of stuff that’s just going to create a danger and we just want the people to understand what’s not allowed.”
The city’s parks and recreation department has some more safety information here.
