Ebike Law In Florida Explained By The Florida Bike Guy
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- Is there an ebike law in Florida? The answer is yes there is because Florida has joined a number of other states in actually defining what an e-bike is.
An ebike in Florida, as Florida describes them, is a bicycle and they have the same rights and responsibilities as a bicycle. They're treated the same as a traditional bicycle. But Florida has adopted a three classification system for defining what an e-bike is. And here they are:
A Class 1 eBike is one that has pedal assistance with a top speed of 20 miles per hour. And the way that operates is that the rider is moving the pedals. It's just that the motor is giving some assistance to the rider, making it a little bit easier.
A Class 2 eBike is one that you could actually have an e-bike with no pedals. Most of them do have pedals but a throttle-only is just what it says. You have a motor and the motor runs the e-bike entirely up to 20 miles per hour.
A Class 3 eBike is an e-bike which is pedal-assisted up to 28 miles per hour.
With the three different classification, there are considerations to be given as to what ebike you buy. The important thing to remember, there are vehicles being sold today, many of them, that are generally lumped under the category of an e-bike but they are no longer a bicycle at all as Florida recognizes system. There are bicycles out there, e-bikes allegedly, that will go 30 or 35 or 40 or 45 or even more miles per hour. So if an alleged e-bike has the ability to go in excess of 28 miles an hour, more than a class three, then it's entering the description of something other than an e-bike.
It would be considered a moped, scooter or an electric motorcycle under the law in Florida.
The reason it's important to know what type of electric bike you have in Florida is so you know where you can ride them and what laws to follow when doing so. You don't need to have a tag or a driver's license or specific insurance on your bicycle or ebike that fits in one of the three classes discussed above. But if you get an electric vehicle, a bicycle if you wanna call it that, that goes more than 28 miles per hour, then you're gonna fall into a category that may require a tag and specific insurance and it may require a driver's license. So this is a very important distinction when you walk into some shop and start looking at e-bikes.
#ebikelawflorida #ebike #bicycleaccidentlawyer #florida
You almost got it right!
Class 1- 20mph peddle assist no throttle
Class 2- 20mph with throttle
Class 3- 28mph with throttle
Thank you for watching and for your clarification.
This is incorrect, @Jim Dodson Law had it correct in the description:
(23) ELECTRIC BICYCLE.-A bicycle or tricycle equipped with fully operable pedals, a seat or saddle for the use of the rider, and an electric motor of less than 750 watts which meets the requirements of one of the following three classifications:
(a) “Class 1 electric bicycle” means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
(b) “Class 2 electric bicycle” means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the electric bicycle and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
(c) “Class 3 electric bicycle” means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour.
www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.003.html
The pure definition of a Class 3 bike is 28 mph maximum speed with no throttle. Some manufacturers get around this by limiting throttle assist on a Class 3 bike to 20 mph.
All classes of e-bike have pedal assist which acts regardless of whether a throttle is present or used. Hence, a common action that elderly would use riding an e-bike with a throttle would be to use the throttle to start from a dead stop, and once weaker elderly knees can manage it, (esp. since these are heavier bikes), they start peddling and rely on the pedal assist rather than the throttle. Based on the advantage a throttle provides for dead starts, I would think they would be the most popular for people with weaker or aging knees. I find it amusing though to see young people who simply want to use an e-bike with its throttle and not pedal at all, as if the e-bike was an almost-moped....rather than something for exercise.
Thank you, great video much appreciated. I particularly liked the clarification of the fact that you can ride your ebike on the sidewalk if your municipality allows it.
Thank you for watching. Stay safe out there!
This information is so important! Thank you, Jim.
Thank you, Kati!
You are right, Kati! Thanks for supporting these videos! 😀
Thanks for this video. One clarification: You need pedals or it isn't a bicycle in FL. That is in the FL statutes directly above the classifications.
Would love to know what your thoughts are on what keep is Kane is doing? I know they have the authority to ban ebikes from sidewalks and parks, but I have banned them from public roads. Seems to be 100% illegal to me with a first offense $250 fine and yet bicycles are still allowed on public roads. This is something I have been looking at and trying to figure out. Thank you for any response and information I can gain. BTW, I advocated long ago, that some of these faster bikes coming out should be named something different. ECycle or anything besides, an E bike or this would become a problem. Here we are. Thank you for your video, and very clear definition that even manufactures do not really understand.
Thank you for taking the time and effort to share this information 😊. New sub here.
thanks so much Jim, for this extremely informative video, but also for the magnificent buying guide on your law firm website. very much appreciated! looking forward to exploring Longboat key on an ebike in the near future.
You're very welcome and so glad you found the guide helpful. Have fun exploring Longboat Key and stay safe out there!
Jim, where in the classification is a Handcycle or self-propelled cycle that has a POWER-Assist?
A bike that the rider has “hand pedals” AND a “motor” that can be programmed to provide “assistance” to help rider pedal the cycle who uses their arms to propel the Handcycle (3-wheels). I believe that there also some Recumbant bikes with 2 & 3 wheels, that also may have power assist. I believe these bikes have speed limitations around 20 mph and few have capability to provide rider a throttle to help with sudden need of acceleration whereby the motor’s power can be forced to provide it’s near maximum power to help cyclist out of a potential harmful situation. Great presentation!
Hi Amir, Great question! With specifications you provided, I believe it would be considered a class 1 electric bike. Florida defines a “class 1 electric bicycle” as an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. I hope you find this information to be helpful. Thanks for writing and stay safe out there!
Some Fl beach towns are banning e bikes altogether, some only on the beach., others anywhere in town. I don't think it's fair for those of us that need electric assist. Problem is that you have these idiots with their super fast and powerful e bikes that should be classified as motorcycles and not bicycles, The law has to make a distinction between the 2.
Thank you very much for the information Jim! Was a great video. I recently got myself an ebike that I also wouldn't call an ebike, but more of a electric motorcycle with pedals haha (it's 12000w) and want to limit the power through the controller's software to only 750w and 20mph (Bringing it to full power when I use it on my property, which could only be changed by plugging it into my computer and cannot be changed on the bike itself) I was wondering if limiting the wattage like that would make it legal to at least use on side walks if anything? Thanks!
Florida defines a class 1 e-bike (which would be allowed on the sidewalk) as having a motor that "assists only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches 20 miles per hour." Because the law is so new, there isn't any case law as to the "potential" for the bike to reach much higher speeds. I would personally argue this fits the definition, however, I can't guarantee it. Thank you for watching and stay safe out there!
I read the law and it says the ebike has to be less than 750 watts. Does this mean 750 watts or less or does it mean it has to be at the most 749 watts? It's so confusing. Great video by the way.
Great question! This means at maximum the eBike can be 750 watts. So anything under 750 watts or lower is good to go in Florida. Thank you for writing & stay safe out there!
@@JimDodsonLawClearwater But didn't you just say the same thing? You also said anything under 750 watts. So something under 750 watts would be 749 and lower. I think the correct way it should be worded is anything 750 watts and lower.
@@PhantomPanic Thank you for writing. Any eBike that is 750 watts and lower are legal
If the ebike has 3000w motor and can be electronically locked to 750w is that compliant with ebike laws?
@@BRichSolution Got the same question. Please let me know if you have got some new info. Thanks!
Could you make videos on E motorcycle laws in FL? These are about to blow up and ppl will be looking for answers.
Thanks!
is a 52volt 1000 watt mid drive motor legal in Florida that has both throttle and pedal assist? What class is this type of ebike? Where can I use an ebike with this much power?
A 1000 watt motor by definition makes the "bike" something other than a bicycle or e-bicycle, I'm not sure what it is but it is not afforded the rights (UM insurance among other things) of a bicycle. In Florida an e-bike is limited to no more than a 750 watt motor. Bicycles are not required to be insured, registered with a tag as motor vehicle and do not require a DL. What ever this thing is may require any or all of those things. Thanks for writing and stay safe out there.
What if The road doesnt have a bike lane?
How do you explain to people that ebikes are allowed on trails that post "No Motor Vehicles" because ebikes obviously have motors?
Hey Jim quick question regarding standard bike laws. The statute at question is 316.2065. The intersection is in st. Peterburg florida 12025 gandy Blvd N when you are leaving the safe trac gas station.
Can bicycles bike on that highway there? Also can they use the right turn lane only to go straight and avoid driving in the lanes to go straight or do they have to use the bike path (not bike lane) that is off the roadway?
The statute says an exemption of not riding as close to the right curb as practicable is a turn lane so does that mean they have to use the straight lane or does that mean they can stay on the left side portion of that turn lane to go straight through the intersection heading east?
Motorists are confused if they are at the gas station and observe bikers not turning when in the right turn lane and I have some bicyclists stating they are allowed to go straight while in the turn lane.
Thanks for your help!
I know of no law preventing cyclists from riding in that lane. However, personally, I would not ride in the turn lane because of the high speed limit on Gandy and the available path to be used off the street. That being said, a cyclist in the roadway is subject to the same laws and regulations as a car.
are e bikes allowed on the trails that say "no motorized vehicles"? I assume they are allowed because they are classified as a bicycle.
In Florida, if they are in one of the classes mentioned above they are allowed as they are classified as an eBike. Thank you for watching.
@@JimDodsonLawClearwater good to know! this is great information.
Can you confirm that the age limit was lifted in 2021 by the governor as long as their motor is under 750W?
The actual professional opinion of Lawyers is "no new laws." I think this is the only thing about lawyers with which I can imeedietly agree. There are two steps that I feel are possible solutions to the threat of new laws. One is that we jump ahead of them and propose a competing law. Two is that infrastructure is proposed to move forward with the technology. Bike paths can be shared. Sidewalks can be shared. Costs nothing and results in laws an official can say they passed a law--they are just dumb politicians.(I don't under-estimate their ability to screw things).Unless officials are given a solution they will come up with the dumbest one possible.
How about electric scooter? I see it is legal to ride on the roadways in other states without registration, how about Florida? Are electric scooters Street legal? I have been wanting to purchase one for commute.
Electric scooters do not have to be registered with the FLHSMV. Whether you can ride them on the streets or not depends on the city’s ordinance. Some cities allow electric scooters on the roads and some do not so I would check with the city before purchasing an e-scooter. Thank you for watching.
Need same explanation of electrical scooters, want to get one but not sure about the laws for it
As for electric scooters, it depends on where you are in Florida. Certain cities, such as Tampa and Miami, have local ordinances that allow riders on the sidewalk but not the street, and others allow the opposite. Without a local ordinance allowing for them, motorized and electric scooters are considered motor vehicles under Florida law. As such, they are not allowed on sidewalks or bike paths unless being propelled by human power alone. Thank you for watching and stay safe out there.
Thank you
Of course they should be fully legal it's a means of transportation like anything else like a car or motorcycle dirtbike or bicycle There are cars that can go over 200 mph. You still can drive them in the street legally and they go over the speed limit if you want to. I think it's stupid for a half speed limitations on the product to be able to drive them in the streets Cause you can go buy a car to go 200 mph but there's no speed limit that goes over 75 in the US make that make sense I think is actually the gas and oil companies who are pushing these laws against electric vehicles, such as E bikes, and electric scooters because they know once people have a means of transportation that can go to same speed as a car. People may prefer to get those means of transportation which are cheaper and you don't have to use gas to operator.
Florida is very unfreindly to bikers no lanes narrow bridges not fair.
I'm in Osceola county. I totally agree. The infrastructure for all cyclists needs a major overhaul and upgrade for safety. I have an e-bike.
Florida only caters to the wealthy, or things that makes it money. Full stop.
Not in Flagler County. We're extremely bike freindly. 125 miles of bike path and marked lanes on all the major connectors.
Yes, and not to mention beer bottles, chewing tobacco wads, gun shots, spit......
@@Sam-dm4rj I'm guessing you're from North Florida! Me too.
Can you tell me if a 350W Power Motor e bike is legal to ride in Lauderhill Florida on side walks
Jim how old I can buy an electric scooter and drive it and if I am a minor there is a way that I can ride legally mind