Grand Rapids, MI Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)
Key Facts
- Motor limit
- Under 750 watts to count as a bicycle
- Class system
- None: one bicycle category, not 3 tiers
- Downtown sidewalks
- Banned in DID south of I-196
- Rider duties
- Same as motor-vehicle operators. Sec. 10.131
Summary
Grand Rapids treats any e-bike with a motor under 750 watts as an ordinary bicycle, giving it the same street, bike-lane, and sidewalk rights and duties as pedal bikes: no state-style three-tier class system locally.
Bicycle means every mechanical means of transportation having at least two (2) tandem wheels, fully operable pedals, and propelled solely by human power or with an assistive electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty (750) watts, upon which any person or persons may ride. ... Users on a public highway shall be granted all of the rights and shall conform to all of the rules herein established for the operation of motor vehicles including the direction and instructions of police officers, traffic control signals and devices applicable to bicycles and micromobility devices.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 70).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 10.130 defines 'Bicycle' to include any device with pedals and an assistive electric motor under 750 watts: one category, not Michigan's Class 1/2/3 tiers. Sec. 10.131 then gives e-bike riders the same rights and duties as motor-vehicle operators on public streets, including obeying traffic signals and police direction. Location rules follow the general bicycle framework in Sec. 10.132: e-bikes may use streets, bike lanes, and most sidewalks, but not sidewalks inside the Downtown Improvement District south of I-196, and riders must yield to pedestrians and give an audible warning when passing on a sidewalk or trail.
Violations & Fines
Governed by the Code's general penalty (Sec. 1.13): up to a $500 fine, 90 days in jail, or both; equipment and manner-of-operation violations are cited the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Grand Rapids classify e-bikes into Class 1, 2, and 3 like Michigan state law?
Where can I ride an e-bike in Grand Rapids?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Rapids
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