eBike Rules

[hozn]

Oh, lord.

We have a few threads you can search/peruse. But, in practice, just do whatever you want; even when the regulations are clear, they won’t be enforced.

[StuartN]

@hozn 179961 wrote:

Oh, lord.

We have a few threads you can search/peruse. But, in practice, just do whatever you want; even when the regulations are clear, they won’t be enforced.

So basically easier to seek forgiveness than to ask permission.

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[consularrider]

@StuartN 179967 wrote:

So basically easier to seek forgiveness than to ask permission.

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Just remember we are not a very forgiving lot.

[Sunyata]

To elaborate… Technically, in DC, e-bikes are not allowed on any trail. In Virginia, there is debate on whether or not an e-bike is considered a motor vehicle and therefore not allowed on the trails. I have no idea about Maryland laws, because, well… Maryland.

In practice though, as long as you are safe, courteous, and not a jerk, no one will say anything about you riding an e-bike (or any other sort of bike) on the trails around here.

[dasgeh]

@Sunyata 179972 wrote:

In Virginia, there is debate on whether or not an e-bike is considered a motor vehicle and therefore not allowed on the trails.

So in Virginia, it’s clear they are NOT motor vehicles and VA law allows them on trails; the debate is whether ArlCo (most trails; almost certainly not), NVRPA (W&OD Trail; pretty definitely not), or NPS (Mt Vernon Trail; probably) can have a different law. Not that it matters.

[Crickey7]

The only hard and fast rule is be considerate and audibly signal all passes.

[StuartN]

@Crickey7 179975 wrote:

The only hard and fast rule is be considerate and audibly signal all passes.

I do this religiously, as well as a ‘Thank you’ as I pass.

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[musclys]

@StuartN 179958 wrote:

With winter coming, I was wondering about bringing my pedelec when I come to visit my father and stepmother. What are the rules regarding eBikes on the road and trails in the area?

Some of the rules are debatable, and hozn is right that they are underenforced regardless. But the safest thing to do is not ride an ebike. Can’t go wrong.

[StuartN]

@musclys 179978 wrote:

Some of the rules are debatable, and hozn is right that they are underenforced regardless. But the safest thing to do is not ride an ebike. Can’t go wrong.

Being a (mostly) law-abiding, rule-following type I guess I’ll continue to bring my Trucker on the Amtrak. Seems like the DC Metro area is no further along than anywhere else in determining the placement of this particular mode of transportation. Thanks, everyone, for your responses and suggestions. See y’all on the road/trail sometime.

[hozn]

Yeah I’d argue we’re pretty far behind many other states in this regard. At least a number of other states have deigned to consider the question.

I’d hope this gets sorted out by our respective governing bodies in the next few years.

[baiskeli]

As a wise old man once said about this topic:

“Nobody will notice. If someone does, they won’t care. If they do care, they won’t say so. If they do say so, they won’t call the cops. If they do call the cops, the cops will probably not know either. In other words, don’t spend any energy worrying about it.”

[mstone]

@hozn 179984 wrote:

Yeah I’d argue we’re pretty far behind many other states in this regard. At least a number of other states have deigned to consider the question.

I’d hope this gets sorted out by our respective governing bodies in the next few years.

Christ, in VA we’ve been waiting for years for them to sort out obvious questions about whether cyclists should be killed. Don’t hold your breath.

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