Cyclists question enforcement of new e-bike restrictions

While cruising down the East Bay Bike path in East Providence, riders say it’s not uncommon to hear an electric bicycle as it whizzes by.

“The only thing I pay attention to is the speed,” said rider, Ed Medieros. “If it seems like they are going excessively fast, that gives me a red flag.”

E-bikes, which have grown exponentially in popularity over the past few years, are bicycles, equipped with a battery and motor.

https://turnto10.com/news/local/east-providence-cyclists-question-enforcement-new-e-bike-restrictions-bike-paths-august-14-2025

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AND A PARKING LOT. IT’S PEDAL POWER WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS, ON THE EAST BAY BIKE PATH, WHERE NEW SIGNS HAVE GONE UP. ONLY ONE TYPE OF E-BIKE IS ALLOWED ON STATE BIKE PATHS. THE LEGISLATION PROHIBITS ALL BUT PEDAL ASSIST E-BIKES. NBC TEN SPOKE TO RIDERS WHO SAY NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED, DESPITE THE REGULATIONS. >> WHILE CRUISING DOWN THE EAST BAY BIKE PATH IN EAST PROVIDENCE, RIDERS SAY IT’S NOT UNCOMMON TO HEAR THE GROWING PURR OF AN ELECTRIC BICYCLE AS IT WHIZZES BY. >> THE ONLY THING. >> I PAY ATTENTION TO IS THE SPEED. >> E-BIKES, WHICH HAVE GROWN EXPONENTIALLY IN POPULARITY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, ARE BICYCLES EQUIPPED WITH A BATTERY AND MOTOR CLASSIFIED INTO THREE CATEGORIES. IT WAS JUST LAST YEAR GOVERNOR DAN MCKEE SIGNED INTO LAW LEGISLATION PROHIBITING ALL BUT CLASS ONE E-BIKES FROM RIDING ON STATE BIKE PATHS, A POINT OF CONFUSION EVEN FOR THE MOST EXPERIENCED RIDERS. >> YEAH, BECAUSE THERE’S SO MANY DIFFERENT ONES YOU SEE ON HERE. SEE ONES WITH THE FAT TIRES AND THE MOTORS, YOU KNOW, YOU SAY, WELL, SHOULDN’T THAT BE ON A ROAD SOMEWHERE? >> CLASS ONE E-BIKES ARE THOSE WHOSE MOTORS ARE ONLY ACTIVATED WHEN A RIDER IS PEDALING, TYPICALLY REACHING MAX SPEEDS OF 20MPH. >> DOES HELP TO HAVE THAT EXTRA. UMPH. >> PEDAL ASSIST RIDERS LIKE CHARLES BARKLEY SAY UNLIKE CLASS 2 OR 3 E-BIKES THAT OPERATE WITH A HAND THROTTLE, THOSE RIDING A CLASS ONE E-BIKE ARE TYPICALLY LOOKING TO BURN RUBBER. >> LIKE I’M AN OLDER PERSON. SO E-BIKES ARE EASIER, LIKE HILLS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. >> CURRENTLY, FINES ARE SET AT $100 FOR VIOLATORS AND NEW SIGNAGE HAS BEEN POSTED TO REMIND RIDERS OF THE RESTRICTIONS. >> THEY PUT. >> THEM UP SO PEOPLE HAVE NOTICE, BUT I THEY’RE NOT REALLY VERY ENFORCEABLE. THEN WHAT GOOD IS THE SIGN? YOU KNOW. >> ANOTHER E-BIKE LEGISLATION HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE LAST SUMMER. RIDERS TELL ME THEY REALLY HAVEN’T SEEN MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE SINCE THEN, MAINLY BECAUSE ENFORCEMENT IS REALLY HARD ALONG THE PATH. A COLLABORATIVE PATROL BETWEEN THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE D-E-M SAYS SINCE THE RULE’S INCEPTION, NOT A SINGLE TICKET HAS BEEN ISSUED. REPORTING IN EAST