Federal Way, WA Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)
Key Facts
- Motor power cap
- 750 watts, all classes
- Class 1/3 cutoff
- Pedal-assist only
- Class 1 top assisted speed
- 20 mph
- Class 2 assist mode
- Throttle allowed, capped 20 mph
- Class 3 top assisted speed
- 28 mph, speedometer required
- Trail speed presumption
- Over 15 mph is prima facie violation
Summary
Federal Way defines electric-assisted bicycles by Class 1, 2 and 3 under its park code and opens city trails to bicycles and all three classes, while keeping trails closed to motor vehicles.
“Electric-assisted bicycle” means a bicycle with two or three wheels, a saddle, fully operative pedals for human propulsion, and an electric motor. The electric-assisted bicycle’s electric motor must have a power output of no more than 750 watts... (1) “Class 1 electric-assisted bicycle” means an electric-assisted bicycle in which the motor provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour; (2) “Class 2 electric-assisted bicycle” means an electric-assisted bicycle in which the motor may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour; or (3) “Class 3 electric-assisted bicycle” means an electric-assisted bicycle in which the motor provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour and is equipped with a speedometer. ... Trails are open to all nonmotorized vehicle use, including bicycles and all classes of electric-assisted bicycles, but closed to all motor vehicles.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-1049, passed August 11, 2026).
Full Breakdown
010 defines an electric-assisted bicycle as a bike with two or three wheels, a saddle, operable pedals, and a motor capped at 750 watts, sorted into three classes. A Class 1 e-bike only assists while the rider pedals and cuts off at 20 miles per hour. A Class 2 e-bike can be propelled by the motor alone but also stops assisting at 20 miles per hour. A Class 3 e-bike assists only while pedaling, cuts off at 28 miles per hour, and must carry a speedometer.
400(5) then settles where those classes may ride within the city's park trail system: trails are open to all nonmotorized vehicle use, including bicycles and all classes of electric-assisted bicycles, but closed to all motor vehicles, a category the code separately defines to exclude electric-assisted bicycles. Riders on any trail are still bound by the general trail-use standards in the same section: no travel faster than is reasonable for conditions, with speeds over 15 miles per hour creating a rebuttable presumption of a violation, and no negligent travel that endangers others. 400(6)(g).
Violations & Fines
FWRC 4.05.040 makes it unlawful to violate any provision of the park chapter, including the trail-use standards in FWRC 4.05.400, and FWRC 1.10.010 sets the default criminal penalty for Code violations at a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Class 3 e-bike use the Bonneville Power Administration Trail?
Are throttle-only e-bikes treated as motor vehicles on Federal Way trails?
Is there a speed limit specific to e-bikes on Federal Way trails?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Federal Way
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E-Bike Classes in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle e-bike classes.