Laws by state / Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
What Pennsylvania's statutes say about riding each kind of personal electric vehicle. Local rules can be stricter.
E-bikes
How the law defines it: "Pedalcycle with electric assist": 100 lb or less, 2 or 3 wheels over 11 in, working pedals, motor up to 750 W, top motor-only speed 20 mph. No class system. Legally a pedalcycle (bicycle).
Road
Allowed
Same rights and duties as other drivers under pedalcycle rules. Not allowed on freeways.
Bike lane
Allowed
Pedalcycle rules apply on highways and on paths set aside for pedalcycles.
Sidewalk
Allowed with limits
Allowed with yielding to pedestrians and an audible signal before passing, but not in business districts (unless signs allow it) or where a usable bike-only lane runs next to the sidewalk.
Paths and trails
Not addressed in statute
Not addressed in statute.
- Helmet
- Under 12 (pedalcycle helmet law).
- Minimum age
- 16
- Speed limit or cap
- 20 mph on motor power alone
- Motor power cap
- 750 W
- License, registration, insurance
- Not addressed in statute.
- Also worth knowing
- Pennsylvania has not adopted the three-class system. An electric pedal bike that falls outside this definition but has a top design speed of 25 mph or less is a 'motorized pedalcycle', a moped-type motor-driven cycle (75 Pa.C.S. 102).
Checked October 26, 2026
Statutes: 75 Pa.C.S. 102; 75 Pa.C.S. 3501; 75 Pa.C.S. 3508; 75 Pa.C.S. 3510; 75 Pa.C.S. 3511; 75 Pa.C.S. 3514
- 75 Pa.C.S. 102 (Definitions: pedalcycle, pedalcycle with electric assist, motor vehicle, EPAMD)
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3501 (Applicability of traffic laws to pedalcycles)
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3508 (Pedalcycles on sidewalks and pedalcycle paths)
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3510 (Pedalcycle helmets for certain persons)
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3511 (Pedalcycles prohibited on freeways)
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3514 (Operation of pedalcycles with electric assist)
E-scooters
Not addressed in statute. We found no Pennsylvania statute that covers this vehicle by name or by a definition that clearly fits it. That isn't permission: police and cities may treat it under another category. Pennsylvania's 'motor vehicle' definition (75 Pa.C.S. 102) covers any self-propelled vehicle except a self-balancing two-wheel device (EPAMD) or a human-powered vehicle, so read literally it would reach a stand-up e-scooter. That would bring registration and driver-licensing rules, but the statute does not mention these devices. Pennsylvania has no e-scooter category in Title 75.
Electric boards (incl. Onewheel-style)
Not addressed in statute. We found no Pennsylvania statute that covers this vehicle by name or by a definition that clearly fits it. That isn't permission: police and cities may treat it under another category. Pennsylvania's 'motor vehicle' definition (75 Pa.C.S. 102) covers any self-propelled vehicle except a self-balancing two-wheel device (EPAMD) or a human-powered vehicle, so read literally it would reach an electric skateboard. That would bring registration and driver-licensing rules, but the statute does not mention these devices.
Electric unicycles
Not addressed in statute. We found no Pennsylvania statute that covers this vehicle by name or by a definition that clearly fits it. That isn't permission: police and cities may treat it under another category. Pennsylvania's 'motor vehicle' definition (75 Pa.C.S. 102) covers any self-propelled vehicle except a self-balancing two-wheel device (EPAMD) or a human-powered vehicle, so read literally it would reach an electric unicycle. That would bring registration and driver-licensing rules, but the statute does not mention these devices. The EPAMD exception covers only self-balancing devices with two side-by-side wheels.