Update: e-Bike Safety Legislation
OLYMPIA UPDATECITY GOVERNMENT
As e-mobility continues to reshape how residents navigate "The Rock," Washington state lawmakers are moving to clear up the legal "gray area" that has caused mounting safety concerns on local streets and trails. House Bill 2374, introduced in the 2026 legislative session, aims to establish a rigorous legal distinction between electric-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) and the high-powered "e-motos" that often masquerade as them.
The push for this legislation stems directly from local advocacy. Recently, Mercer Island City Councilmembers Julie Hsieh and Ted Weinberg traveled to Olympia as part of a dedicated team representing the Island at the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Action Days. Coinciding with the AWC Conference was the committee hearing of HB 2347, which was the culmination of months of local pressure. "Concern about e-bikes on Mercer Island mounted last summer, and the City Council voted that this would be one of our legislative priorities for this year," Hsieh noted. Mercer Island Mayor Dave Rosenbaum shared his support for the bill via video testimony at the hearing. Students from Kirkland and bicycle advocacy groups also testified in support of the bill.
The Legislative Solution
To turn that priority into policy, Mercer Island city staff collaborated with State Representative Janice Zahn (D-41) to draft HB 2374. "Our city worked with our House Representative Janice Zahn to sponsor HB 2374," Hsieh added, highlighting the partnership between the city and the state to address the safety gap. The bill seeks to solve a growing problem for law enforcement: many vehicles currently sold as "e-bikes" are actually high-wattage electric motorcycles capable of speeds that far exceed legal limits for bike lanes and sidewalks. By creating a clear definition, the bill will make it significantly easier for cities like Mercer Island to regulate where these vehicles can be operated.
Defining the Difference
Under HB 2374, a vehicle is classified as an "Electric Motorcycle" rather than an e-bike if it meets any of the following criteria:
No Pedals: It is equipped with foot pegs instead of fully operative pedals.
Excessive Power: The motor output exceeds 750 watts.
High Speed: The motor can propel the vehicle over 20 mph on its own (throttle only) or continues to assist beyond 28 mph (pedal assist).
By drawing this clear line, HB 2374 seeks to ensure that true e-bikes remain a protected, low-barrier form of transportation for all ages, and to define a class of high-powered electric motorcycles that are subject to the same licensing, registration, and safety standards as their gas-powered counterparts.
The Washington State Senate is considering a similar bill, Senate Bill 6110 - 2025-26 which also changes the definition of an e-bike to exclude e-motos, however it does not make an attempt to define what an electric motorcycle is or subject them to the same rules as other motorcycles. The Senate Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on the bill at 4 pm on Monday, January 26th. You can state your position on this bill here.
