08/25/2026
PLAN TO RIDE YOUR E-BIKE/SCOOTER TO SCHOOL? KNOW THE RULES FIRST
E-bikes and e-scooters are making it easier for kids to navigate their communities. They are also causing complaints and accidents throughout Itasca County (see the Aug. 11 meeting of the Itasca County Board of Commissioners Meeting on watchictv.org).
This fall, if your child plans to ride their e-bike or e-scooter to school, know the rules for such vehicles and their place on Minnesota roadways.
E-bikes look similar to traditional bicycles but they include a few more components that make them electric, including a battery, a motor, throttle and control panel showing mileage, speed and battery level.
There are four classes of e-bikes, all that operate with an electric motor and pedal assist. A legal e-bike must be capped at 750 watts (or 1 horsepower hp), not exceed 28 mph in speed and have functional pedals that work just like a traditional bike.
A person must be at least 15 years old to operate an e-bike in Minnesota. In most cases, e-bikes can operate anywhere a traditional bike can go including streets, bike lanes and shared paths. Classes 1 and 2 e-bikes may also ride on most city sidewalks, with the exception of sidewalks within the Central Business District of Grand Rapids.
Any two-wheeled bike moving at rates higher than 30 mph without functional pedals is considered a “motorized bike,” and comes with a whole different set of rules.
These are referred to as e-motos or electric motorbikes and have the ability to reach speeds up to 50 mph with power exceeding 750 watts. Rules are similar to those for motorcycles. Operators must be 15 years or older and hold a valid driver’s license or bicycle permit. The bike must also be registered to travel on public roadways. Motorbikes are prohibited from sidewalks, bike paths and trails.
Another vehicle in a class entirely its own is the motorized foot scooter. These look like a skateboard with a steering column and handlebars. Most commuter scooters go between 15-25 mph but performance scooters can reach speeds up to 40 mph.
State statute for scooters requires riders be at least 12 years of age and wear protective headgear. If operated at night, the scooter must have both head and tail lights. Scooters are not allowed to travel on Minnesota sidewalks and a scooter may not have more than one passenger.
“I see [that law] broken all the time - a couple of kids on one scooter going 30 miles per hour and they’ll cruise around town,” says Shane Troumbly, Safe Roads Coalition Coordinator for Itasca County, as he explained the difference between e-bikes and motorized bikes during a meeting of the Itasca County Commissioners on Aug. 11.
Troumbly told of recent incidents involving young children who were hurt while illegally operating e-bikes, e-scooters and motorized bikes without wearing proper safety gear. Accidents involving e-bikes and cars have become an increasing concern for local law enforcement, explained Troumbly, and are typically caused by someone “whipping down the road going faster than they should.”
The Itasca Area Schools Collaborative (IASC) supports students biking to school, as long as the students live within a comfortable bicycling distance for their skill level, follow traffic safety laws and use appropriate safety equipment, including a properly fitted helmet. According to IASC policy for bicycles, children in third grade and below should be accompanied by an adult when bicycling to and from school.
While on school grounds with a bicycle/scooter, students must park their bicycles/scooters in the racks provided and store their helmets in a locker or backpack.
In compliance with Minnesota law, IASC member districts (Bigfork/Grand Rapids, Deer River, Greenway, Hill City, and Nashwauk/Keewatin) must provide age-appropriate pedestrian and bicycle safety education during the first three weeks of the school year. Students in grades 4–8 specifically receive instruction on traffic laws, safe biking techniques, and proper helmet fitting.
For more information about rules and regulations regarding e-bikes, scooters and motorized bikes on Minnesota roads, visit the Minnesota Safe Routes to School website at https://mnsaferoutestoschool.org/electric-bikes/
