Canton Issues Electric Bicycle Warnings

CANTON, CT — With new laws slated to take effect regarding electric bicycles in October, Canton police have issued a warning about them this week.

The Canton Police Department is reporting an increase in complaints and accidents involving electric bicycles (e-bikes), with a substantial number of riders being underage and operating them unsafely.

"While e-bikes are a fun and efficient way to get around, they are still motorized vehicles and must be operated responsibly and according to Connecticut laws," wrote the CPD this week.

As a result, it has offered the following tips:

• Follow all traffic laws.

• Age restrictions apply – CT law requires riders of CLASS 3 e-bikes to be at least 16 years old.

• Always remember to wear a helmet.

• Ride where it’s legal (Class 3 e-bikes are not allowed on bike and multi-use trails).

• Be mindful of pedestrians and other road users and ride at safe speeds and keep control of your bike at all times.

"Our goal is to keep everyone in our community safe," wrote Canton police, who also urged parents to talk with children about e-bike safety, the rules of the road, and riding responsibly.

The Canton PD also updated the public about new laws going into effect on Oct. 1.

They include:

• E-bikes with no pedals and batteries over 750 watts but under 3,500 watts will now be defined as motor-driven cycles.

• A valid driver’s license will be required to operate those e-bikes (Class 1-3 will still not require a license).

• E-bikes over 3,500 watts will require registration and insurance, similar to motorcycles.