Where can’t you ride an e-bike in MS? Here’s what state law says
As the weather warms up across Mississippi, residents can expect to see more bicycles and electric bicycles out on the road.
It’s important to know the rules of the road while bicycling to keep yourself and others safe.
Here’s what to know about riding an e-bike in the Magnolia State.
What are e-bikes?
An e-bike, or electric bicycle, is a bicycle equipped with an electric motor and battery that makes riding faster and easier.
In Mississippi, the three state-designated classes of e-bikes including the following, according to People For Bikes:
- Class 1: Bicycle with a motor that provides assistance only when rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches 20 miles per hour
- Class 2: Bicycle with a throttle-actuated motor that ceases to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches 20 miles per hour
- Class 3: Bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches 28 miles per hour. People under 16 years of age can not legally drive a Class 3 e-bike, but they can ride as a passenger
What are MS laws for riding e-bikes?
In Mississippi, the same rules of the road apply to e-bikes and human-powered bicycles, according to People For Bikes.
The state doesn’t require people to register their bicycles, but it does require bicycles to be equipped with a lighted white lamp at the front and a reflex mirror reflector or lamp exhibiting a red light at the back, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Is there anywhere you can’t ride an e-bike?
While e-bikes, like bicycles, aren’t allowed on any interstate highway in Mississippi, they are generally allowed on streets, bicycle and multi-use paths across the state, according to the DOT.
If you’re riding on a street, you can’t ride with more than two people next to each other and in single file for a multilane roadway, the DOT states. Bike riding should never impede on normal traffic patterns, according to officials.
Some local governments restrict the use of bicycles on certain paths, so it’s important to check out city and neighborhood ordinances wherever you ride.
Safety tips for riding an e-bike
Here are some tips for staying safe while riding an e-bike in Mississippi, according to experts at Macfox bike store:
- Always wear a helmet when riding
- Travel with the flow of traffic
- Respect and obey all traffic laws
- Use hand signals to indicate turns
- Stay in the appropriate lane
- Make sure your bike has adequate lighting if you’re riding at night
