DENVER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed HB 17-1151 this week, a bill defining a three-class system for electric-assist bikes depending on their top speed and whether the electric motor assists while pedaling.
The new state law requires manufacturers to label e-bikes so they are easy to identify and gives local government authority to manage e-bikes on bike paths under their jurisdiction.
The bill doesn't affect management of eMTBs on public mountain bike and hiking trails. It's only applicable to the road, bike lanes and bike paths.
With its passing Colorado becomes the fourth state to pass e-bike legislation, after California, Tennessee and Utah.
Morgan Lommele, e-bikes campaign manager for PeopleForBikes, who's been heading up the efforts in various states, said it took a group effort with Bicycle Colorado, PeopleForBikes, the BPSA, local retailers and Haibike testifying in favor of the bill.
"At long last e-bikes are really gaining the momentum we need them to," Larry Pizzi, head of the BPSA's e-bike committee, told Bicycle Retailer. "This is more great news on the BPSA and PeopleForBikes e-bike front. Colorado is really important. The bill got tremendous support there. We're stoked we can put one more important state in the bag."
Lommele told BRAIN several other states have bills in the process including Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Connecticut and New York.
