Characteristics of Emerging Road and Trail Users and Their Safety

Electric Bicycles

Electric bicycles are similar in geometry to human-powered bikes but have a motor that provides pedal assistance and allows riders to accelerate, climb hills, and overcome wind resistance more easily than manually powered bikes. Depending on the rider's weight, the terrain, and wind conditions, the average rider who travels a distance of 16 km (10 miles) at 16 km/hr (10 mi/h) under manual power can travel at 24 to 32 km/h (15 to 20 mi/h) with the same effort when assisted by electric power.⁽¹⁴⁾ Electric bicycles can be obtained as stand-alone products or by adding an electric assist unit to an existing bicycle.

Many States have addressed electric bicycles through legislation. Often the legislation allows electric assisted bikes on bike lanes and shared use paths. For example, an electric bicycle is legally a "bicycle" in California, according to California Vehicle Code CVC 406(b).⁽¹⁴⁾ In Florida, electric bicycles that travel under 32 km/h (20 mi/h) are considered "bicycles."⁽¹⁵⁾

Because many State statutes limit speeds to 32 km/h (20 mi/h), manufacturers generally design and govern their electric bicycles to match this speed. This speed is not much different from that of a normal bicycle, so many operational characteristics are anticipated to be similar to those for bicycles.

It should be noted that there are also recumbent bicycles, tandem bicycles, and adult tricycles with electric-assisted power. Because these vehicles are relatively rare, they will probably not be evaluated independently, but some operational characteristics will likely be similar to their nonelectric equivalents.

^14. Electric-Bikes.com. www.electric-bikes.com/others.htm. Accessed August 10, 2001.

^15. State of Florida. The 2000 Florida Statutes. Title XXIII, Section 316.1995. Online Sunshine, www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Index&Title_Request=IV. Accessed August 14, 2001.