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Michigan e-bike laws
| E-bike classes allowed | Class 1, 2 and 3 defined (motor not greater than 750 W) |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | Class 3: at least 14 to operate (may ride as passenger younger); no minimum for Class 1/2 (MCL 257.662a(4)(a)) |
| Helmet rule | Class 3: operators and passengers under 18 (MCL 257.662a(4)(b)); none found for Class 1/2 in 662a or bicycle sections 257.658, 257.660, 257.662 |
| Where you can ride | Same rules as bicycles (MCL 257.662a(1)). Class 1 may use paved or crushed-limestone linear trails and rail trails unless the local authority or state agency bans it (662a(8)). Class 2 and 3 may use those trails only if the authority allows it (662a(9)). No e-bikes on natural-surface nonmotorized trails unless the authority allows them (662a(10)). Any part of a highway open to bicycles, including bike lanes and shoulders (MCL 257.662a(6)); not in cities that ban nonemergency motor vehicles unless allowed, or Mackinac Island State Park without a permit (662a(7)); DNR: Class 3 not allowed on state-managed trails. |
| License / registration | Not required. 'Motor vehicle' in the Michigan Vehicle Code excludes electric bicycles (MCL 257.33). |
Sources
- https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-257-13e
- https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-257-662a
- https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/hike-and-bike/ebikes
- https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-257-33
This is a summary, not legal advice. Local rules can be stricter; check the sources above.