State guide
Colorado
Colorado adopted the three-class system in 2017 with HB17-1151 and places e-bikes largely within the bicycle rules in Title 42. Colorado law is unusually explicit about sidewalk access, bike and pedestrian paths, and local authority to allow or prohibit e-bikes on those facilities.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- Three-class system
- Yes. Colorado adopted the three-class system in 2017 through HB17-1151, codified in C.R.S. § 42-1-102(28.5) and related sections.
- Minimum age
- Colorado sets a minimum operator age of 16 for Class 3, except a person under 16 may ride as a passenger. No statewide class-specific minimum operator age was found for Class 1 or Class 2.
- Helmet rule
- Anyone on a Class 3 e-bike who is under 18 must wear a helmet. No separate statewide e-bike helmet rule was found for Class 1 or Class 2.
- Where e-bikes may ride
- Colorado allows sidewalk and pathway riding unless prohibited by official traffic control devices or local ordinance; Class 1 and 2 may use bike or pedestrian paths where bicycles are authorized unless a local authority prohibits them, while Class 3 may use such paths only if within a street or highway or if the local authority permits.
- License or registration
- No. Colorado states e-bike riders are exempt from motor vehicle registration and license requirements.
- Law
- C.R.S. §§ 42-1-102(28.5), 42-4-1412, 42-4-1412.5; HB17-1151 (2017).
Official resources in Colorado
Colorado General Assembly - Electric Bicycles
Official Colorado General Assembly summary of e-bike classes, path access, helmet, age, and exemption from registration and license requirements.
Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 42
Official Title 42 PDF containing statewide bicycle and electrical assisted bicycle rules, including sidewalks and path use.
Colorado Department of Transportation - Information for Bicyclists
State transportation guidance page for bicycle and e-bike riders using Colorado roads.
Key facts for Colorado
- HB17-1151 created Colorado's three e-bike classes in 2017.
- Colorado says electric bicycles are exempt from motor vehicle registration and license requirements.
- No one under 16 may ride a Class 3 e-bike except as a passenger.
- Anyone under 18 on a Class 3 e-bike must wear a helmet.
- Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes may use bike or pedestrian paths where bicycles are allowed unless the local authority prohibits them.
- A rider may use a sidewalk or pathway unless use is prohibited by official traffic control devices or local ordinance.
City e-bike rules in Colorado
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Boulder - E-micromobility Boulder | Boulder | Not published* | Official city page explaining what qualifies as an e-bike or other electric device and where different devices may ride. |
| City of Boulder - Shared E-Scooters and E-Bikes Boulder | Boulder | Not published* | Official city page for shared device rules and operations in Boulder. |
| City of Colorado Springs - E-Bikes on City of Colorado Springs Trails El Paso | Colorado Springs | Not published* | Official city trails page with the city's e-bike trail rules and rollout details. |
| City of Fort Collins - Trails Larimer | Fort Collins | Not published* | Official city trails page stating Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed on paved trails, not on soft-surface trails; page also lists a trail program contact number. |
| City of Fort Collins - Bike Share Larimer | Fort Collins | Not published* | Official city page for the local shared e-bike and e-scooter provider program. |
| City and County of Denver - Transportation Demand Management Denver | Denver | Not published* | Official city page that includes bike, e-bike, and micromobility share as transportation demand management strategies. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Check the city or county rule before riding on a sidewalk, crosswalk, or local trail because Colorado expressly allows local restrictions.
- If you ride a Class 3 e-bike, make sure the operator is at least 16 and that every rider under 18 wears a helmet.
- Use the Title 42 PDF together with the local park or trail page for the exact route you plan to ride.
Not seeing your city or county?
We list a city only when an official government page publishes its rules. If yours isn't in the table above, it may not publish them online yet. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Colorado, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Colorado's population center, for comparison only):
- City Code/UDC, Wyoming · about 111 miles
- Greater Cheyenne Greenway Safety Guide, Wyoming · about 111 miles
- Active Transportation Advisory Committee, Wyoming · about 111 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.Colorado General Assembly - Electric Bicycles
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Colorado page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- E-bike classes 1, 2 and 3, explained
- Can you ride an e-bike on the sidewalk?
- E-bikes on trails, bike paths and in parks
- E-bike age limits and helmet rules
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