Electric bikes have greatly simplified the area of transportation in everyone’s regular life. But there are many riders who get banned from driving for various reasons. As an electric bike rider, one of the questions that may arise in your mind at that time is, can you ride an electric bike if banned from driving? The answer to this question can be either positive or negative. Confused by my words?
Well, let me clear it up. Generally, electric bikes can be driven anywhere in the world. This completely depends on the driving license laws of the country where you currently live in. More simply, you can drive an electric bike even after being banned, if there is no license requirement in your country. However, this will not be possible if there is a legal license requirement. I will tell you more details about this in the next stages of my article.
Do You Need A License To Ride An Electric Bike?
Every country has different vehicle license requirements. So, whether you need a license to ride an electric bike will depend entirely on your local laws and regulations. Electric bikes are becoming more and more popular. Most states do not require an extra license to ride your favorite electric bike.
- For example, in the United States, electric bicycles are generally considered the same as regular bicycles. Hence no license is required to operate here.
- On the other hand, in some areas of the UK, electric bicycles are considered closer to motorcycles than traditional bikes. And this may require a license to operate it.
Again, sometimes it is necessary that riders under the age of 18 can drive without a license. There are rules that allow cyclists as young as 8 years old and weighing less than 100 pounds to ride without any license.
However, the license will be applicable for riders of more than this weight. It is important that you check the laws and regulations of your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles before riding an electric bike on public roads.
Some Rules & Legal Requirements When Using an Electric Bike
There are several rules and legal requirements for using electric bikes. As a conscious rider, you must keep these things in mind while riding. Again for your convenience, I am informing you about some special rules and legal requirements at this stage.
- It is important to wear a helmet while using an electric bicycle.
- Obey all traffic laws, including speed limits and stop signs.
- Your electric bicycles should have a pedal-powered, 750-watt electric motor and a motor wheel diameter of 26 inches.
- There is no age limit for riding Class I and II electric bikes but the rider must be at least 16 years old to ride a Class III e-bike.
- Electric bicycles are considered motor vehicles in some areas. So you must check all laws applicable to driving a motor vehicle.
- Your electric bike must have fully functional pedals. And those pedals need to be operated like a regular bicycle.
- Ride in the bike lane or on the right side of the road. Do not ride your electric bike on sidewalks or pedestrian areas.
- Never ride your electric bike after consuming alcohol or drugs. This is completely illegal and can lead to serious accidents.
- Be aware of the range of your electric bike. It is important to make sure that you have enough energy to reach your destination safely.
- Do not use any such accessories or modifications. This may make your electric bike illegal.
- Countries like the UK, Europe, and Australia have a 15.5mph speed limit. And if you look at the speed limits in the US you will see that legally they are allowed to be between 20mph and 28mph.
You may be banned from driving if you do not follow all the above rules, regulations, and legal requirements. So, you must try to follow all the rules. Also, check to see if there are any special rules for riding electric bicycles in your area.
Can You Ride An Electric Bike If Banned From Driving?
Whether you can still ride your e-bike after being banned from driving will depend entirely on the riding rules of your area.
If you live in an area where electric bikes are considered motorized vehicles. In that case, you must have a valid driver’s license in order to operate them. Then if for some reason you are banned from driving, it will not be possible for you to ride an electric bike. According to some US state laws, you can easily cycle there even if you are banned.
Again, according to the laws of states like Alabama, New Mexico, Florida, Louisiana, and Alaska, you cannot use electric bicycles after being banned from driving. In that case, you will definitely need a legal driving license to cycle on the road. Then you can understand all these things, i.e. being able to ride or not, even after being banned from driving will completely depend on the rules of your area.
At this point in my writing, I am informing you about the license requirements for electric bikes in different countries through a chart.
| Country Or State | License Requirement |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes |
| Alaska | Yes |
| Colorado | No |
| Connecticut | No |
| Arizona | No |
| Arkansas | No |
| California | No |
| Delaware | No |
| Georgia | No |
| Idaho | No |
| Hawaii | Yes |
| Florida | No |
| Illinois | No |
| Kansas | No |
| Indiana | No |
| Iowa | No |
| Kentucky | No |
| Louisiana | Yes |
| Maine | No |
| Texas | No |
| Virginia | No |
| Maryland | No |
| Massachusetts | Yes |
| South Dakota | No |
| Virginia | No |
| West Virginia | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Yes |
| Vermont | No |
| South Carolina | No |
| Pennsylvania | No |
| New York | No |
| Oklahoma | No |
| Oregon | No |
| New Mexico | Yes |
| New Jersey | No |
Benefits: When You Are Banned From Electric Bike Driving
Wise man says, there is always a bright or positive site in every bad situation of our lifespan. And If you can’t ride an e-bike due to your ban, there are some advantages too.
- Save money on your other transportation costs and low cost of ownership.
- Easily accessible, convenient, and eco-friendly
- You can ride longer distances than on regular bikes.
- Exercise in a fun way and increase your stamina.
- Health benefits with reduced stress and fatigue.
- No emissions or noise pollution.
- Get to your destination faster than walking or taking public transport.
- Improved safety and increased independence.
- Enjoy the convenience of an electric bike.
- Reduce your carbon footprint.
Risks Of Being Involved In Riding an Electric Bike If You Are Banned From Driving
- Limited access to charging stations and repair facilities.
- Risk of being ticketed or arrested for riding an electric bike when banned from driving.
- Limited range of travel.
- Less speed of travel.
Final Thought
After reading the entire discussion, you must have understood that whether or not you can cycle even after being banned from driving depends on the country you live in. If you live in countries like Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, and New Mexico, you cannot do e-bike cycling after being banned from driving.
But there are many countries where driving is possible even after being banned. So, you must understand that you have to pay attention to all the rules and regulations of your country/region/state. Because only then you can complete a safe and hassle-free e-bike riding journey.
