HB 76: Making E-bikes Legal – 2019

House Bill 76 would redefine electric-assisted bicycles as what they are: bicycles.

The proposed changes would update the existing Idaho Code that currently defines e-bikes. Users would no longer have to worry about things such as insurance, licensing, liability, registration fees, headlights, turn signals and brake lights. The new bill classifies e-bikes under the same safety requirements of a bicycle and allows them to travel along the same pathways as other non-motorized bikes, subject to local consideration. Importantly, the bill does not preempt the ability of local municipalities from restricting e-bikes on shared paths (i.e., in the foothills). Finally, the bill would not alter the power of national forest and BLM managers from designating which trails are open or closed to e-bikes.

ICL supports the changes and recognizes that e-bikes can provide an environmentally-safe and healthy option for Idahoans to get around.