Whether climbing mountain trails, commuting to work or cruising through neighborhood streets, e-bikes are becoming an increasingly common part of life in Utah. Their growing presence has prompted lawmakers to adopt new regulations aimed at balancing safety, access and the future of outdoor recreation.

The law arrives at a time when the broader micromobility industry – which includes e-bikes, electric scooters, e-motorcycles and similar devices – has experienced explosive growth nationwide.

Jeremy Begay, an e-bike enthusiast who works in the outdoor recreation industry, said advances in technology and manufacturing have fueled much of that expansion.

“There are several movements nationwide in industry, retail and outdoor recreation when it comes to the world of micromobility,” Begay said. “Micromobility being battery powered vehicles, also known as scooters, e-bikes, e-moto, hoverboards and similar devices. We have seen the supply and demand grow exponentially.”

According to Begay, improvements in battery technology, performance and affordability have transformed the market over the past decade.

As demand increased, manufacturers responded with a growing number of brands and product offerings. However, Begay noted that rapid growth has also created new challenges.

“This rapid development in the last decade has largely been unregulated and it feels a bit like the Wild West,” he said. “The list of issues we are facing ranges from batteries being a fire hazard, trail access, the speed of these devices, and the race of manufacturers to create a platform that is faster, better and cheaper than its competitor,” Begay said.

Utah’s new law seeks to address some of those concerns by reinforcing the state’s existing three-class e-bike system while drawing a sharper line between electric bicycles and higher-powered electric motorcycles.

Under the law, Class 1 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 20 miles per hour. Class 2 e-bikes may include a throttle and are limited to 20 miles per hour. Class 3 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 28 miles per hour and require a speedometer.

Devices exceeding those limits may be classified differently under state law and could be subject to additional requirements.

The legislation also establishes new age-based restrictions. Children younger than 8 years old are prohibited from operating e-bikes on public roads, sidewalks and trails. Riders younger than 14 must be supervised by a parent or guardian, while riders under 16 are prohibited from operating Class 3 e-bikes.

Additionally, riders younger than 21 are now required to wear helmets while operating e-bikes or electric scooters on public roads.

Beginning in 2027, Utah will also require riders ages 8 through 15 to complete a state-approved safety course or ride under direct adult supervision.

For Begay, the new regulations represent a reasonable first step toward addressing safety concerns while preserving access to the benefits of micromobility.

“The simple answer to this for me is yes,” he said when asked whether the law strikes the right balance between safety and accessibility. “We need to start somewhere for the purpose of making people aware that micromobility devices are different, so that they can then educate themselves with how to interact with them.”

Begay believes many consumers still lump all electric mobility products into a single category despite significant differences in performance and intended use.

“The purist in me wants to see a difference in how e-moto and e-bike are treated,” he said. “Currently, people see these as one category.”

Trail access remains one of the most debated issues within Utah’s outdoor recreation community. As electric bicycles become more common, land managers, municipalities and trail organizations continue to evaluate where different classes of e-bikes should be permitted.

“This is still being debated, so there is a whole spectrum of opinions,” Begay said.

He has observed changing attitudes among many outdoor recreation users.

“I think people’s ideas about e-bikes are changing and more people are finding that these bikes allow for more people to ride,” he said.

Begay noted that the popularity of e-bikes has expanded participation among older riders, individuals recovering from injuries and people who might otherwise be unable to enjoy cycling.

“This new market of people who are riding are pushing access simply by riding,” he said. “Trails are becoming more crowded and municipalities are responding to trail demand by creating more trails and trails that are e-bike accessible.”

State officials have cited increasing crash and injury reports involving younger riders as one reason for strengthening regulations. Begay believes education remains one of the biggest challenges facing the industry.

“Unfortunately, I have not seen changes in behavior with families yet,” he said. “With micromobility being somewhat new to the masses, there has not been enough education.”

He said many consumers still view electric mobility devices as toys rather than transportation equipment capable of reaching significant speeds.

“Most people categorize these devices as children’s toys or other light recreation devices,” Begay said. “This leads to people not enforcing rules of the road, helmet safety, product care and other best practices.”

He hopes the new law will help raise awareness.

“Hopefully, these laws will create more awareness to what people are purchasing,” he said. “Awareness and education lead to more responsible decisions.”

Looking ahead, Begay believes Utah’s reputation as an outdoor recreation leader positions the state to influence future policy discussions nationwide.

“Utah is known for its access to outdoor recreation,” he said. “Most of that comes from Utah being a model state in the way it approaches recreation.”

While debate over trail access, safety standards and regulation is likely to continue, Begay remains optimistic about the future.

“I think that Utah should be at the forefront of all of this because it would mean that everyone could benefit – riders, retailers and tourism,” he said. “I’m confident that we Utahns will find a place for micromobility devices to exist in all spaces.”