Boulder, CO Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)

Section 8-8-12, "Electric Assisted Bicycles on Open Space," was added by Ordinance No. 8575 in 2023 after the council found that e-bikes improve access for people of more ages and abilities, give a consistent visitor experience across interconnected paths, and support the city's climate goals by cutting vehicle trips to reach local paths. " The operative rule in Subsection (b) is narrower than the findings: a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike may be operated on open space recreational paths only where the Open Space and Mountain Parks department has designated and posted the path for that use under Subsection 8-3-6(a)(6).

Section 8-3-6(a)(6) is the backstop: no person may drive a nonmotorized vehicle or electric assisted bicycle on mountain parks or open space property except a trail or roadway posted for that use, or a paved or graveled roadway already open to motor vehicles. Boulder's Section 7-1-1 definitions recognize only two classes. A Class 1 motor assists only while the rider pedals and cuts off at 20 mph; a Class 2 motor is throttle-actuated and assists without pedaling but also cuts off at 20 mph. Both classes are capped at 750 watts, and a machine that doesn't meet either definition (a faster class-3-style e-bike, for instance) isn't authorized on any open space path or trail under this scheme, posted or not.

Park patrol officers, commissioned under Section 8-3-12, enforce the open space vehicle chapter and may detain a person reasonably suspected of a violation for identification and a pat-down for weapons if safety requires it.