St. Louis County, MO Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)
Key Facts
- E-bike classes
- Pedal assist, throttle on demand, speed pedelec
- Speed cutoff (Classes 1-2)
- 20 mph motor-assist limit
- Speed cutoff (speed pedelec)
- 28 mph, speedometer required
- Legal category
- Treated as a "motorized bicycle"
- License required
- Valid operator's or chauffeur's license
- Park trail speed cap
- 15 mph under §616.065
Summary
St. Louis County's traffic code classifies e-bikes as "motorized bicycles," not ordinary bicycles, splitting them into three types under Section 1202.010: pedal-assist and throttle-on-demand models capped at 20 mph, and speed pedelecs capped at 28 mph with a required speedometer. Because they are motorized bicycles, riders must hold a valid driver's or chauffeur's license under Section 1213.025 before taking any e-bike onto a county road.
(b)Any of the following electric bicycles (e-bikes):(i)Pedal assist e-bike: An e-bike that is equipped with an electric motor that provides assistance only when an operator is pedaling; and has a motor that ceases to provide electrical assistance when the e-bike reaches the speed of twenty (20) mph (thirty-two (32) km/h);(ii)Throttle on demand e-bike: An e-bike that is equipped with an electric motor that may be used exclusively to propel the e-bike with a throttle; and has a motor that ceases to provide electrical assistance when the e-bike reaches the speed of twenty (20) mph (thirty-two (32) km/h);(iii)Speed pedelec e-bike: An e-bike that is equipped with an electric motor that provides assistance only when an operator is pedaling; and has a motor that ceases to provide electrical assistance when the e-bike reaches the speed of twenty-eight (28) mph (forty-five (45) km/h); and is equipped with a speedometer.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Traffic: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
010(22) of the St. Louis County Revised Ordinances defines three classes of e-bike inside the broader "motorized bicycle" category: a pedal assist e-bike, whose motor "provides assistance only when an operator is pedaling" and cuts off at 20 mph; a throttle on demand e-bike, whose motor "may be used exclusively to propel the e-bike with a throttle" and also cuts off at 20 mph; and a speed pedelec e-bike, pedal-assist only, that keeps assisting to 28 mph and must carry a speedometer. 010(6). 055: ride in the right-most through lane at the flow of traffic, move onto the shoulder or into a dedicated bike lane when safer, and shift lanes only to turn left, dodge a hazard, or use a marked bike facility.
025 states flatly that "no person shall operate a motorized bicycle on any highway, roadway or alleyway unless the person has a valid operator's or chauffeur's license," meaning an unlicensed rider who can pedal a throttle-equipped e-bike on a driveway cannot legally ride it onto any county road. 065 caps cyclists, e-bikes included, at 15 mph on park trails unless a posted sign sets a different speed for that stretch, and trails are open only from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset.
Violations & Fines
Operating a motorized bicycle, including any e-bike class, on a county highway, roadway or alleyway without a valid operator's or chauffeur's license violates Section 1213.025 and is enforced by St. Louis County Police as a traffic offense. Riding outside the required right-hand lane position under Section 1210.055 without a qualifying exception is a separate citable violation. On park trails, exceeding the 15 mph cap or riding after posted hours falls under the Parks Department's general Section 616.190 penalty: a fine up to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all three e-bike classes need a driver's license in St. Louis County?
What's the speed cutoff for each e-bike class?
Can I ride an e-bike on a St. Louis County park trail?
Where must e-bike riders position themselves on the road?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
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