Kirkland, WA Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)
Key Facts
- Class 1 cutoff
- 20 mph, pedal-assist only
- Class 2 cutoff
- 20 mph, throttle allowed
- Class 3 cutoff
- 28 mph, pedal-assist, speedometer required
- Motor power cap
- 750 watts, all classes
- Trail speed limit
- 15 mph presumptive limit on CKC
- Violation fine
- $75 civil infraction
Summary
Kirkland Municipal Code 19.40 defines Class 1, 2 and 3 electric-assisted bicycles by motor wattage and cutoff speed, then exempts all three classes from the citywide ban on motorized vehicles on the Cross Kirkland Corridor trail. All classes are allowed on the CKC, subject to a 15 mph presumptive speed limit and the trail's user code of conduct.
“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 twenty miles per hour; “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 twenty miles per hour; or “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 twenty-eight miles per hour and is equipped with a speedometer. ... No motorized vehicles shall be allowed on Kirkland trails. ... This section shall not apply to wheelchairs powered by electric motors, electric-assisted bicycles or authorized maintenance, police, fire or emergency vehicles.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4945, passed July 21, 2026).
Full Breakdown
40 KMC governs use of the Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC), the city's rail-trail, and treats electric-assisted bicycles as a defined category separate from ordinary bicycles and from banned motorized vehicles. 010 sorts e-bikes into three classes by how their motor delivers power: a Class 1 bike assists only while the rider pedals and cuts off at 20 mph; a Class 2 bike can be throttled without pedaling but also cuts off at 20 mph; a Class 3 bike assists only while pedaling, cuts off at 28 mph, and must carry a speedometer.
Every class is capped at a 750-watt motor. 020(e) bans motorized vehicles, defined broadly as anything with an internal combustion or electric motor, from every Kirkland trail, listing automobiles, golf carts, mopeds, motor-driven cycles, motorized foot scooters and motorcycles as examples, but it carves out a specific exception for electric-assisted bicycles, along with motorized wheelchairs and emergency or maintenance vehicles, so all three e-bike classes stay legal on the CKC. 020(a) sets a 15 mph presumptive speed limit for anyone on the trail, and subsection (b) separately bars negligent travel likely to endanger people or property.
Riders must also follow the trail user code of conduct in subsection (h): stay right except when passing, give an audible signal before overtaking, and yield to groups occupying no more than half the trail width. 015, so Kirkland's class definitions track state law exactly.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of Chapter 19.40, including exceeding the 15 mph presumptive speed limit or riding negligently, is a civil infraction carrying a $75 fine under KMC 19.40.030. Kirkland Police can cite riders who travel negligently or ignore posted trail restrictions, and repeated violations can support further enforcement action restricting a rider's access to the CKC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ride a Class 3 e-bike on the Cross Kirkland Corridor?
What's the difference between the three e-bike classes in Kirkland?
What happens if I speed on the CKC trail?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kirkland
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E-Bike Classes in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle e-bike classes.