E-Bike Safety
Understanding the Rules of the Road & Trail
It's Just like Riding a bike (but faster)
In general, riding an e-bike is very similar to riding a regular bike. However, on your e-bike, you can accelerate more quickly and hold your speed more easily.
This means that stopping can take longer, quick reactions can be tricker, and the heavier bike can be less easy to maneuver.
Whether you are a new rider or seasoned cyclist, now is a good time to review the rules of the road and trail to ensure your won safety, as well as the safety of your fellow infrastructure users.
People For Bikes E-Bike SMART
Safe Riding is Fun Riding
This safety guidance will take you through a series of short videos that explain what an electric bicycle is, how to handle your e-bike battery, where you can ride e-bikes, and best practices for rider safety and etiquette when on your e-bike.
After each video, you can take a brief quiz to test your knowledge.
Click the play button below to get started!
UTAH E-BIKE LAWS
UTAH’S BICYCLE LAWS PROTECT BICYCLISTS AND ENCOURAGE SAFER RIDING AND DRIVING
Bike Utah makes it easy to find answers to your riding questions, and we've embedded their compilation of e-bike laws, as well as the laws that protect any type of cyclist on Utah's infrastructure here.
Scroll below and search "Electric Assisted Bicycles (E-Bikes)" to learn the laws, follow them, set a positive example for other riders and drivers.
Gear Up to Ride Safely
Frequently Asked E-Bike Questions
All About Motors
Finding the best e-bike starts with finding bikes made with high quality motors. The motor is the central nervous system of any electric bike and its placement on the bike can affect the way that the bike rides, corners and handles. The best bike manufacturers design the motor to fit into the geometry of the frame, typically as replacement of the bottom bracket. This allows for the center of gravity to stay directly below the rider. The highest quality motors on the market are made by Specialized (Brose), Bosch and Shimano.
MID- VS HUB-MOUNTED MOTORS
Motors mounted at the bottom bracket, or mid-mounted, provide balanced, powerful propulsion that allows the bike to handle naturally and predictably. Hub-mounted motors may be placed at the front or rear hub. These motors are effective, but can often result in a bike feeling unbalanced or cause difficulty when fixing a flat. If you aren't sure which motor is best for you, come test ride the different styles!
ALL ABOUT BATTERIES
Most electric bikes come with lithium ion batteries that charge quickly and can be plugged into any 110v outlet. Charge times range from 3-5 hours depending on the battery and how depleted it is. Battery life (the number of times you can charge and fully discharge the battery before it needs to be replaced) lasts anywhere from 3-5 years depending on the size of the battery and the amount of usage.
WHAT DOES RANGE ACTUALLY MEAN?
Range refers to the length of distance a rider can get on a fully charged battery. Many factors impact range including size of motor and battery, weight of rider, elevation gains/losses, wind direction and more. For example, a 500wh battery will give you an additional 50% of distance than a 250wh battery. It is important to plan your bike ride based on the amount of mileage you can get out of the battery. Range anxiety happens when you are near the end of your battery’s charge yet you still have a noticeable distance to travel to get to your destination.
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT BIKE WEIGHT?
Weights can vary a considerable amount depending on bike model and battery capacity. Most electric bikes are around 45Ibs but they can vary in weight from 30Ibs to more than 60Ibs. Cargo bikes tend to be heavier due to carrying capacity. Some batteries are removable, making it easier to lift the bike.
Remember to consider an appropriate car rack when purchasing--we recommend a receiver hitch rack.
WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY OLD E-BIkE Battery?
Like most components on your bike, an electric bike battery will eventually wear out, not hold a charge, and need to be replaced. It's important to properly dispose of your old battery, and that's why we work with Call2Recycle to safely and responsibly recycle batteries!
When you purchase any new e-bike from us, we charge a $15 battery recycling fee to encourage you to return that battery back at the end of its life. You can also recycle batteries from bikes you didn't purchase from us for $15 each. This fee covers the safe packaging, shipping, and processing of your battery.
