Grand Junction, CO Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)
Key Facts
- Definitions
- GJMC § 10.04.020
- Where each class may ride
- GJMC § 10.04.1412(14)-(15)
- Class 1/2 cutoff speed
- 20 mph
- Class 3 cutoff speed
- 28 mph
- Class 3 minimum age
- 16 to operate
- Motor power limit
- 750 watts
Summary
In the City of Grand Junction, GJMC § 10.04.020 defines Class 1, 2 and 3 electrical assisted bicycles by motor cutoff speed, and § 10.04.1412 sets where each class may ride: Class 1 and 2 are allowed on bike or pedestrian paths unless the City posts otherwise, while riders under 16 cannot operate a Class 3 e-bike on any street or path.
Class 1 electrical assisted bicyclemeans an electrical assisted bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour. ... Class 2 electrical assisted bicyclemeans an electrical assisted bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance regardless of whether the rider is pedaling but ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour. ... Class 3 electrical assisted bicyclemeans an electrical assisted bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 miles per hour. ... A person may ride a class 1 or class 2 electrical assisted bicycle or electric scooter on a bike or pedestrian path where bicycles are authorized to travel. ... The City may prohibit the operation of a class 1 or class 2 electrical assisted bicycle or electric scooter on a bike or pedestrian path. ... A person under 16 years of age shall not ride a class 3 electrical assisted bicycle upon any street, highway, or bike or pedestrian path.
Full Breakdown
Grand Junction's traffic code, adopted under Ordinance No. 4759 (Sept. 6, 2017) and amended by Ordinance No. 5084 (July 20, 2022) and Ordinance No. 5076 (June 1, 2022), tracks the state's three-class e-bike framework. GJMC § 10.04.020 defines an electrical assisted bicycle as a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and a motor not exceeding 750 watts, sorted into three classes: Class 1 assists only while pedaling and cuts off at 20 mph; Class 2 assists whether or not the rider pedals but also cuts off at 20 mph; Class 3 assists only while pedaling and cuts off at 28 mph.
GJMC § 10.04.1412(14) governs where each class may operate: a rider may take a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike (or an electric scooter) onto any bike or pedestrian path where bicycles are already authorized, but the City retains the power to post signage prohibiting Class 1 or Class 2 operation on a specific path. Class 3 e-bikes carry an added age restriction under § 10.04.1412(15): a person under 16 may not ride one on any street, highway, or bike or pedestrian path, though a person under 16 may still ride as a passenger if the bike is built to carry one, and riders and passengers under 18 on a Class 3 e-bike must wear a CPSC- or ASTM-compliant helmet secured with a chin strap.
Equipment rules layered on top under GJMC § 10.04.221 require lights, reflectors, working brakes and a manufacturer classification label on every electrical assisted bicycle sold or modified in the City. A violation of § 10.04.1412 is a misdemeanor, though the state points statute at C.R.S. § 42-2-127 is expressly excluded from applying to e-bike riders.
Violations & Fines
Operating an e-bike in violation of GJMC § 10.04.1412, including a Class 3 e-bike ridden by an underage rider or one used on a path where the City has posted a Class 1/2 restriction, is a misdemeanor prosecuted in Grand Junction Municipal Court, though the driver's-license points statute (C.R.S. § 42-2-127) does not attach to the conviction. Equipment violations under GJMC § 10.04.221, such as missing lights, reflectors or a classification label, are separately charged as a traffic infraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ride a Class 2 e-bike on the Riverfront Trail?
How old do you have to be to ride a Class 3 e-bike in Grand Junction?
Do Grand Junction e-bike riders need a helmet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Junction
Compare Grand Junction to another location·View the Colorado mobility & curb rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.