Chanhassen Issues E-Bike Safety Guidelines for Residents
The city of Chanhassen released educational guidance on electric bike regulations and safety requirements as summer riding season peaks.
The city's presentation outlined Minnesota's legal requirements for e-bikes, which must have pedals, a saddle seat, a motor of 750 watts or less, and cannot exceed 28 mph. Riders must be at least 15 years old to operate e-bikes legally.
Chanhassen allows three classes of e-bikes on city streets, sidewalks and trails outside business districts. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes reach maximum speeds of 20 mph, with Class 2 models featuring throttles. Class 3 e-bikes can travel up to 28 mph but lack throttles.
The city emphasized safety guidelines including riding at safe speeds, yielding to pedestrians, obeying traffic signs and providing warning before passing. Officials noted that vehicles exceeding 28 mph or lacking pedals, such as e-motorbikes, require motorcycle licenses and cannot use sidewalks or trails.
Chanhassen officials stressed the importance of wearing helmets, staying alert around others, yielding at crosswalks and avoiding modifications to motor or speed settings to maintain the city's bike-friendly environment.
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Source document
[0:00] It's summer, it's warm out, and
[0:01] Chanhassen residents are getting out
[0:03] more and more using electric bikes or
[0:05] ebikes. But what's legal and where can
[0:07] you ride them? In Minnesota, ebikes are
[0:09] allowed on streets, sidewalks, and
[0:12] trails outside of business districts as
[0:13] long as they meet a few important rules.
[0:17] A legal ebike must have pedals, a saddle
[0:20] seat, a 750 W motor or less, can't go
[0:25] faster than 28 mph, and the rider must
[0:28] be at least 15 years old or older. There
[0:32] are three classes of ebike that are
[0:33] legal to drive in Chanhassen. Classes
[0:35] one and two go up to 20 m an hour. The
[0:38] difference between class one and class 2
[0:40] is that class 2 have a throttle, like
[0:42] the bike I'm on right now. A class 3
[0:44] ebike goes up to 28 mph but doesn't have
[0:47] a throttle. Whether you're on a road,
[0:49] trail, or sidewalk, the same basic rules
[0:51] apply. Ride at a safe speed, yield to
[0:54] pedestrians, obey all traffic signs, and
[0:57] always give a heads up before passing.
[1:01] Now, not everything with an electric
[1:03] motor is an ebike. Some models like
[1:05] e-otobikes go faster than 28 miles per
[1:08] hour, don't have pedals, and are illegal
[1:10] to drive on sidewalks, trails, and most
[1:13] roads unless you have a license like a
[1:15] motorcycle. Chanass is proud to be bike
[1:18] friendly, and that includes ebikes when
[1:20] they're used legally and responsibly.
[1:22] That means stay alert and aware of
[1:24] others, yield at crosswalks, wear a
[1:27] helmet, know your ebikes class, and
[1:30] don't modify your motor or speed
[1:32] settings. Let's keep our sidewalks,
[1:34] streets, and trails safe and fun for
[1:37] everyone. Ride smart, ride safe, and
[1:39] have fun.
[1:41] [Applause]
[1:42] [Music]
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Other Topics from This Document
Electric Bike (Ebike) Regulations and Safety Guidelines
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