By 1808Delaware
Electric bicycles, scooters, and other powered devices are changing how people move through Westerville. They are also raising new questions about speed, safety, and where different vehicles belong.
The City of Westerville has responded with Ordinance No. 2026-12, establishing more specific local rules for electric bicycles and personal transportation devices, commonly known as PTDs. The regulations address helmet use, speed limits, sidewalk access, park trails, bike lanes, and the increasingly blurry distinction between an e-bike and an electric motorcycle. For riders and parents considering a purchase, city officials are emphasizing a simple message: understand what the vehicle is before taking it onto a sidewalk, trail, or street.
Helmets Required For Younger Riders
Anyone younger than 18 who operates or rides as a passenger on an e-bike or PTD in Westerville must wear a properly fitted and fastened safety helmet. Police may stop and cite an underage rider solely for failing to wear a helmet. Parents, guardians, and legal custodians may also be cited if they knowingly permit a minor in their care to ride without one. Westerville Police plan to use bicycle patrol officers to educate riders and monitor e-bike and PTD use on trails and shared-use paths.
Different Places, Different Speeds
The ordinance establishes speed and operating rules based on where a device is being ridden.
On sidewalks, the maximum speed is 8 mph, and the electric motor must be completely disengaged. In Uptown Westerville, riders should use the street rather than the sidewalk.
Shared-use paths and city park trails carry a maximum speed of 15 mph. Bike lanes have a 20 mph limit. On roadways, riders must comply with the posted motor vehicle speed limit and may not impede the normal flow of traffic.
Class 3 e-bikes, which can reach assisted speeds of up to 28 mph, are not permitted on city sidewalks, paths, or trails. They may be used in bike lanes and on roadways by riders age 16 and older.
Westerville officials caution that the city’s regulations are more restrictive than Ohio law. Riders traveling within the city must follow the local standards.
What Counts As A PTD?
A personal transportation device is generally a human-powered, electric, or hybrid device designed for individual transportation that is not otherwise classified as a bicycle, motorcycle, or motor vehicle. The category includes powered scooters, motorized skateboards, Segways, and similar low-speed devices weighing less than 100 pounds and capable of traveling up to 20 mph.
PTDs may be used on shared-use paths and park trails at speeds of no more than 15 mph. They may also be used on sidewalks at no more than 8 mph, but only with the motor disengaged.
Know What You Are Buying
One of the city’s central concerns involves powerful electric vehicles that may be marketed or described as e-bikes even though they do not meet the legal definition.
Under Ohio and Westerville law, an e-bike must have fully operable pedals and an electric motor rated at no more than 750 watts. Some crossover vehicles carry motors producing 2,500 to 3,000 watts. Those machines may look like bicycles, but they are closer to electric motorcycles and can require a license to operate.
Before purchasing an e-bike for a child or teenager, parents are encouraged to check the motor wattage, maximum speed, pedal configuration, and vehicle classification. Class 1 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 20 mph. Class 2 models may use either pedal assistance or a throttle, also up to 20 mph. Both may be used on trails and paths, subject to the city’s 15 mph limit. Class 3 e-bikes may provide assistance up to 28 mph. Riders must be at least 16, and the vehicles cannot be used on sidewalks, shared-use paths, or park trails.
Powered bikes exceeding 750 watts or 28 mph are considered e-motos rather than e-bikes. A license is required, and they are not permitted on sidewalks, trails, shared-use paths, or bike lanes.
More Speed Means Less Reaction Time
City safety guidance also focuses on the practical differences between electric and traditional bicycles. E-bikes are generally heavier, require longer stopping distances, and can reach speeds that leave riders with less time to react to vehicles, pedestrians, curves, or changing trail conditions.
New riders are encouraged to practice in a safe area before entering traffic. Carrying passengers can increase instability and stopping distance, while phones and headphones can reduce awareness of surrounding conditions. Battery safety is another concern. Riders should use manufacturer-approved chargers, avoid leaving batteries charging unattended overnight, and keep batteries away from flammable materials. Helmets should be replaced following a significant impact, even when visible damage is limited.
Reporting Unsafe Riding
Residents should call 9-1-1 to report accidents, emergencies, or immediate reckless behavior. Questions about the regulations, enforcement information, and non-emergency reports of unsafe riding may be directed to the Westerville Division of Police at 614-882-7444.
The new rules do not seek to discourage electric transportation. Instead, city officials are asking riders to match their speed and behavior to the setting around them. E-bikes and scooters may make trips quicker, but on Westerville’s sidewalks, trails, and streets, getting there safely remains the more important measure.
Image by Brian Sinclair from Pixabay
