Dear Edgemont Parents and Guardians,
We are seeing an increasing number of students riding electric bicycles and high-powered electric motorcycles to school, including vehicles such as Sur-Ron, Talaria, and similar electric motorcycles.
We want parents to be aware that Utah law places significant restrictions on children operating these vehicles. Some vehicles that may look like, or even be advertised as, an “e-bike” are not legally considered electric bicycles under Utah law.
This is also an important safety issue. We have had several very serious injury accidents involving the improper use of e-bikes and electric motorcycles. These vehicles are capable of significant speeds, and young children may not have the experience, judgment, or training necessary to safely operate them around cars, pedestrians, intersections, and other students.
WHAT IS LEGALLY CONSIDERED AN E-BIKE?
Under Utah law, an electric-assisted bicycle must meet specific requirements, including having fully operable pedals and qualifying within Utah’s established e-bike classifications.
Of particular importance:
If the vehicle was manufactured with foot pegs instead of pedals, it is not an electric-assisted bicycle under Utah law.
Likewise, if a vehicle was originally manufactured with foot pegs and requires the installation of an aftermarket pedal kit in order to have pedals, adding those pedals does not turn the vehicle into a legal e-bike.
Vehicles manufactured as electric motorcycles or high-powered electric devices are subject to the laws governing motorcycles and motor vehicles.
RULES FOR CHILDREN RIDING LEGAL E-BIKES
For elementary-school-aged children:
Children under 8 years old may not operate an e-bike with the electric motor engaged on public property, roads, paths, or sidewalks.
Children under 14 years old may not operate an e-bike with the motor engaged on public property, roads, paths, or sidewalks unless directly supervised by a parent or guardian.
Children under 16 may not operate a Class 3 electric bicycle.
Riders under 21 are required to wear an approved helmet where required by Utah law.
For our elementary students, this means that in most circumstances, a child cannot legally ride an electric bicycle to school alone with the electric motor engaged.
SUR-RONS, TALARIAS, AND SIMILAR ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES
Many Sur-Ron, Talaria, and similar high-powered electric vehicles are electric motorcycles, not e-bikes.
A vehicle does not become an e-bike simply because it:
Runs on electricity;
Looks similar to a bicycle;
Is sold online as an “e-bike”; or
Has an aftermarket pedal kit installed.
If the vehicle was manufactured with foot pegs rather than functional bicycle pedals, that is a major indicator under Utah law that the vehicle is not an electric-assisted bicycle.
When classified as an electric motorcycle or other motorcycle-type vehicle, it is generally subject to the same licensing, registration, insurance, equipment, traffic, and helmet requirements that apply to motorcycles powered by gasoline.
Street operation of an electric motorcycle generally requires:
A valid driver license;
The appropriate motorcycle endorsement;
Proper vehicle registration;
Required liability insurance;
Required street-legal safety equipment; and
A helmet for riders under 21.
Obviously, an elementary-school-aged child cannot satisfy the driver licensing requirements necessary to legally operate a motorcycle on a public roadway.
WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
Before allowing your child to ride an electric vehicle to school, please make sure you know what the vehicle actually is under Utah law.
Please confirm that:
The vehicle legally qualifies as an electric-assisted bicycle;
Your child is legally old enough to operate it;
Your child may legally operate it without direct parental supervision;
The vehicle has not been modified in a way that changes its legal classification; and
Your child is following all applicable helmet, traffic, and safety laws.
The manufacturer's original configuration matters. If the vehicle came from the manufacturer with foot pegs instead of pedals, installing pedals later does not make it a legal electric bicycle.
POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES
Our first priority is keeping students safe and helping families understand the law. However, students who operate these vehicles unlawfully may be subject to:
Parent or guardian notification;
The student not being permitted to ride the vehicle home;
Law-enforcement contact;
Traffic or other applicable citations; and
Impoundment of the vehicle when authorized by Utah law.
Our goal is not simply enforcement. We want to prevent a serious injury before it happens.
High-powered electric motorcycles can accelerate quickly and travel at speeds comparable to traditional motorcycles. A collision involving a young rider, a motor vehicle, or a pedestrian can result in life-changing injuries.
We sincerely appreciate your help in making sure Edgemont students are traveling to and from school safely and legally.
If you are unsure whether your child's vehicle is legally an e-bike or an electric motorcycle, please feel free to contact me before allowing your child to ride it to school.
Thank you for helping us keep our students safe.
Officer G. Carter
Provo Police Department
Edgemont School Resource Officer
