05/19/2026
๐ผ-๐น๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ช โ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ
Ford City Borough has received numerous complaints regarding e-bikes and other electric mobility devices being operated on roadways, sidewalks, parks, and public areas throughout the Borough. With more residents using e-bikes, scooters, bicycles, and similar devices, we want to remind everyone of Pennsylvania law, local rules, and the importance of safe, respectful operation.
Under Pennsylvania law, an e-bike is generally considered a โpedalcycle with electric assistโ when it has ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก๐จ, ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐จ ๐ก๐๐จ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ 100 ๐ฅ๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐จ, ๐๐๐จ ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ฉ๐ค๐ง ๐ค๐ 750 ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ ๐ค๐ง ๐ก๐๐จ๐จ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ 20 ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ก ๐จ๐ช๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐ข๐ค๐ฉ๐ค๐ง ๐ฅ๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฃ๐.
E-bikes are different from electric scooters, mopeds, motor scooters, and other motorized devices. Different rules may apply depending on the device, its speed, whether it has pedals, whether it is registered, and how it is powered. Please review the attached PennDOT micromobility fact sheet for a helpful comparison.
Riders are reminded to obey traffic signs and signals, travel with the flow of traffic, use lights between sunset and sunrise, and operate with caution around pedestrians, vehicles, parked cars, intersections, driveways, and private property. Bicycles and e-bikes are not permitted to be ridden on sidewalks in business districts. Where sidewalk riding is otherwise permitted, pedestrians have the right-of-way.
The Borough also has rules governing the use of parks and recreation facilities. Borough ordinance prohibits riding, driving, or propelling any powered vehicle on a footpath or in any other part of a park, except on roadways or parking lots. Powered vehicles may not be operated in parks at speeds over 10 mph.
Ford City Borough is also home to a portion of the Armstrong Trail. The Borough owns the trail segment within Ford City, but encourages users to follow the Armstrong Trails device policy for consistency and safety. That policy allows wheelchairs and similar mobility devices, and permits certain electric mobility devices only when they have motors of 750 ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ ๐ค๐ง ๐ก๐๐จ๐จ, ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐จ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ 100 ๐ฅ๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐จ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ 36 ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ช๐ก๐ก๐ฎ ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก๐จ. Internal combustion devices are prohibited.
The trail is intended to remain a safe, quiet, and relaxed environment for walkers, bicyclists, families, children, seniors, and other users. Limits on sound, emissions, size, weight, power, and speed help ensure that everyone can safely share the trail.
Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to talk with their children and teenagers about the safe and lawful use of e-bikes, scooters, and other electric mobility devices. These devices can travel quickly and may create serious safety concerns when operated carelessly, on sidewalks, against traffic, through parks, or around pedestrians.
Please ride safely, respectfully, and responsibly!
