A pair of cyclists make their way towards Wilkes-Barre in Wyoming on the dike.
Times Leader File Photo
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PA micromobility fact sheet, available on Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s website.
Courtesy of PennDOT
WILKES-BARRE — The popularity of electric bikes has soared in recent years and people can be found riding them just about everywhere — on city streets, the levee in Kirby Park and various park trails.
Because of its electric motor, e-bikes have the ability to make cycling more accessible for riders of all fitness levels, while allowing them to cover longer distances without overexerting themselves.
However, the rise of e-bike usage in Wilkes-Barre and other areas had one resident questioning the safety of the bicycles and wondering how they were regulated.
“They are everywhere, whether you’re in Kingston, Edwardsville, Plymouth, Nanticoke — they’re everywhere,” Wilkes-Barre resident Thomas Gagatek told city council during an April 24 meeting.
Gagatek, who had brought up his issues with e-bikes in the past, said he had seen riders “zipping all over,” even at night, and questioned what would happen if a rider hit someone and caused an accident.
“They zip in and out of the sidewalk, around traffic and everything else,” he said. “But we could have a disaster.”
Councilmember Bill Barrett agreed that e-bikes were being ridden everywhere, but he pointed out that e-bikes are legally treated the same as regular bicycles in Pennsylvania.
Therefore, council cannot prohibit the use of e-bikes anywhere regular bikes are permitted, including bike lanes, road ways and bike paths.
However, Barrett did state that council has the ability to restrict e-bikes on sideways and in the business district.
He also suggested that the police department could crack down on issuing violations to e-bike users who do not obey the traffic laws bicyclists are expected to.
What is an e-bike?
According to the state Department of Conservation of Natural Resources, e-bikes are categroized the same as regular bicycles but with an electric assist.
They have fully functional, operable pedals and cannot weigh more than 100 pounds, exceed 20 miles-per-hour using the motor or have motors that exceed 750 watts.
Because e-bikes are treated the same as bicycles, they are not subject to the registration, licensing or insurance requirements that apply to motor vehicles.
You must be at least 16 years old to ride an e-bike in Pennsylvania.
E-bikes are not the same as mopeds, which are classified as motorized vehicles since they can be ridden without pedding. Therefore, mopeds require a driver’s license to operate.
According to PennDOT, mopeds can travel at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour, must be registered with PennDOT and insured. They are also prohibited from sidewalks and bike lanes.
More information on the state vehicle code can be found here.
Flood Authority policy
An e-bike policy for the Wyoming Valley Levee Trail was approved in April of last year.
It allows for e-bikes not solely relying on motorized power to be used atop the levee, if traveling at a safe speed.
According to previous reporting, the policy makes a specific exception for those with disabilities, but prohibits the following motor and battery-powered transportation modes on the levee trail: golf carts, mopeds, scooters, unicycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes, motorcycles and snowmobiles.