New signs remind users: No e-motos in Eugene parks
3 min read
from Marion Suitor, Eugene Public Works, and staff reports
New signs being installed across the Eugene park system confirm that electric motorcycles, often called e-motos, are not allowed. The city of Eugene follows state rules and regulations for vehicles.
Oregon treats high-powered electric bikes as motorcycles, not bicycles. Real e-bikes are bicycles and can only go 20 mph with a throttle or 28 mph with pedal assist only. Anything faster is a motor vehicle that needs a license to ride on the streets and can’t be ridden on trails or bike paths.
Parents may face fines and other legal consequences if kids ride e-motos on public streets or paths. The presence of pedals on a vehicle does not automatically mean it is an e-bike.
“If your child’s bike can go over 20 mph with a throttle, it’s an e-moto and illegal everywhere in Eugene except private property,” said Sgt. Nate Pieske with the EPD Traffic Safety Unit. “If your child crashes or hurts someone riding an e-moto, you may be held liable or receive a citation.”
Adults are also at risk of enforcement if they operate an electric motorcycle that isn’t registered with the DMV and/or the rider doesn’t have a motorcycle endorsement.
“Getting outside to enjoy our beautiful city and get around is encouraged, but we really want people to stick to riding legal devices,” said Willow Hamilton, community engagement coordinator for transportation at the city of Eugene. “Please keep your speeds down and look out for each other so that everyone can enjoy our paths and streets safely.”
Not every “electric bike” you see for sale is truly a legal e-bike. Some are actually electric motorcycles, which are not allowed to be ridden on bike paths, streets, bike lanes, sidewalks or any public spaces.
If an “e-bike” can go over 20mph without pedaling, then it’s not an e-bike. It’s an e-moto and illegal to ride everywhere in Eugene except private property. This is true even if it was sold as an e-bike.
How to tell the difference:
- Legal e-bikes cannot exceed 20 mph without pedaling (by using a throttle).
- Legal e-bikes must have working pedals.
- Some legal e-bikes can reach 28 mph, but only by pedaling and having the motor help.
- Under Oregon law, legal e-bikes are bicycles, not motor vehicles.
- E-motos exceed 20 mph without pedaling (using a throttle) and are often capable of reaching speeds between 30-70 mph or higher.
- E-motos might have functional pedals, fake pedals, or pegs instead of pedals.
- Under Oregon law, e-motos are not bicycles, they are motor vehicles.
If you are thinking about buying yourself or a family member an e-bike, don’t get fooled by online retailers selling over-powered and dangerous unclassified vehicles as e-bikes. Visit a local bike shop and tell them you want a legal e-bike that can be ridden on our paths and streets.
The speed limit on Eugene’s paths is 12 mph when others are present and 20 mph when you’re alone—no exceptions.
Eugene Police Department has installed a new reporting tool to MyPDConnect to track complaints and pinpoint locations where illegal e-moto and e-bike/e-scooter behavior is happening.
You can report e-motos, speeding and reckless behavior anywhere in Eugene at MyPDConnect: Eugene Police Department Online Reporting – MyPDConnect.
For more information, visit eugene-or.gov/BikeLaws.
