Lawmaker wants to give towns the ability to clamp down on irresponsible e-bike drivers

E-bikes have been nothing but a pain in Arnold, says Mayor Shannon Santucci.

With e-bike riders zipping down the middle of the street, or not following road rules, Arnold is at a crossroads of what it can and can’t do to enforce rules for the motorized bikes.

“There’s so many questions, and at (a recent) council meeting, a lot of people brought that up,” Santucci said. “I see them all the time. I get it’s a means of transportation. But there’s got to be some sort of rules they have to follow.”

That’s where a state lawmaker thinks she can step in.

After fielding complaints and concerns about e-bikes, state Rep. Jill Cooper, R-Murrys­ville, plans to introduce legislation that gives municipalities the authority to establish rules for e-bikes operated on roads and sidewalks, and to treat e-bikes differently than traditional bicycles.

“This legislation continues to protect the e-bike sport. But if there are issues, it’s a way to rein those in so they’re safe,” Cooper said.

“I felt the law wasn’t addressing this category. It gives clarity and autonomy to each municipality to handle the situation as they want.”

Under current law, e-bikes are permitted on roads and sidewalks if they meet specific limitations on speed, size, weight and motor power, Cooper said.

“They are much heavier than bikes, and they go much faster,” Cooper said. “This makes it very clear that it is a separate category from bicycles.”

Pennsylvania law limits e-bikes to 750 watts and top speeds of 20 mph. But there are three classes of e-bikes, Cooper said: class 1, where the e-bike assists riders when they pedal up to 20 mph; class 2, where e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 20 mph and have a throttle to engage the motor to provide a boost; and class 3, where the e-bike motor kicks in only where the rider is actively pedaling but stops at 28 mph.

The proposal would give municipalities the option to establish specific e-bike ordinances, which could require registration, limits or prohibition on e-bikes on roads or sidewalks and fines for violators.

The market segment is growing. Jim Yurek, owner of the Bike Lab in Plum, said his business has seen an increase in e-bike sales. He estimated about 70% of his sales are in e-bikes.

“It’s getting people out riding that haven’t ridden in years,” he said. “It makes cycling fun. A lot of people call it cheating, but if it’s making you ride and making you smile, why is it cheating?”

Yurek said issues with e-bikes come from when people purchase what they think is an e-bike online. Nothing the Bike Lab sells goes over 28 mph, which is the limit for e-bikes, Yurek said.

“The legislators and people making laws need to familiarize themselves with what a bike shop sells and what’s online,” he said. “We will not sell those at our shop.”

Yurek advises people interested in e-biking to visit a bike shop and get an understanding of what they’re looking for.

With different levels of speeds and technologies for e-bikes, and currently vague public perception, it’s difficult for local police to know how to address e-bikes enforcement, Santucci said.

Cooper proposes increasing e-bike violations from $10 to $50 and a new fine of $100 if an e-bike operator rides carelessly and it results in injury. Those fines would apply statewide and don’t need to be approved by municipalities.

First responders have responded to a number of recent crashes involving e-bikes:

• On Aug. 26, a woman riding an e-bike in Gilpin was flown to the hospital after being hit by a car.

• An e-bike crashed into a vehicle Aug. 12 in Arnold, and the e-bike user was taken to the hospital.

• A Jeannette man was killed in an e-bike vs. vehicle collision July 31.

• An e-bike rider suffered injuries after being hit by a car June 5 in the Pittsburgh Mills complex in Frazer.

In 2024, there were 345 vehicle crashes involving e-bikes in Pennsylvania, accounting for about 27% of all bicycle-related crashes, according to the Pennsylvania State Police.

There were two e-bike fatalities, and 56 e-bike riders suffered serious injuries, according to state police.

State Police spokesman Myles Snyder declined to speak about Cooper’s proposal, saying the department does not comment on pending legislation.

New Kensington has had “some” issues with e-bikes, Mayor Thomas Guzzo said.

“While I am sure that the majority of e-bike riders are riding properly and safely, I agree with the state proposing penalties for speeding and careless operation of the e-bike,” Guzzo said. “Public safety is always our priority. And putting some of these standards in place will certainly make it safer for everyone.”