Growing e-bike sales are prompting reminders from police and cycling advocates about Maine’s three e-bike types, along with safety and legal requirements.
Author: Akua Devall
Published: 4:37 PM EDT June 26, 2026
PENOBSCOT COUNTY, Maine — Electric bicycles are becoming an increasingly common sight on Maine roads and trails, offering riders an easier way to tackle long commutes, steep hills, and longer recreational rides.
But as technology evolves, law enforcement and cycling advocates said it’s important for riders to understand where their bikes fall under state law.
“Sometimes we’re over 50% of our normal bike sales that we normally have through the season; they are now e-bikes,” Jason Neal, owner of Slipping Gears Cycling, said.
The growing popularity reflects how e-bikes have expanded access to cycling for riders of varying ages and abilities, Neal said.
But not all e-bikes are made equal.
“It is faster—you hit potholes quicker, you hit obstacles, you come around corners faster,” Neal said.
Under Maine law, e-bikes are divided into three categories.
Class 1 e-bikes provide pedal assistance only, and they stop assisting once the rider reaches 20 mph.
Class 2 e-bikes can be powered by a throttle without pedaling and are also limited to 20 mph.
Class 3 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 28 mph, making them the fastest electric bicycles allowed under state law.
Riders should take time to become familiar with how their e-bike handles before riding at higher speeds, according to Holden Police Sgt. Phil Boyd.
“You really should work up to and know the limits of your e-bike,” he said. “If you don’t, you’re operating in an unsafe manner.”
Boyd said riders should also be aware that modifying an e-bike can change how it is classified under the law.
By increasing a bike’s speed or power through aftermarket modifications, what begins as an electric bicycle may legally be considered a moped, triggering additional registration and operating requirements under Maine law.
“If you’re not used to it, and you give it the boost of power, it can knock you off balance,” Boyd said. “You can find it difficult to stop.”
Dan Bassett, deputy director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, said higher speeds also increase safety concerns.
“One of the biggest concerns that we have is that they can move at the speed of a motorcycle, and that means there’s an increased stopping distance,” Bassett said.
As electric bicycles become more common, cycling advocates said education is just as important as enforcement. Understanding the capabilities of an e-bike, riding responsibly, and knowing the state’s classification system can help riders stay safe while avoiding legal issues.
“It opens up that opportunity to still be mobile and have that mobility to get out and enjoy the beautiful state of Maine,” Neal said. “Just with safety.”
For more information on Maine’s e-bike laws, including how yours is classified, visit the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s website.