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.
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