Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
ESSB 5452
Brief Description: Concerning electric-assisted bicycles.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Cleveland, Liias and Wilson, J.).
Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill
  • Directs the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to undergo a public process to collect information related to electric-assisted bicycle use on natural surface trails and roads.
  • Directs the WDFW and the DNR to report their findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2022.
Hearing Date: 3/16/21
Staff: Robert Hatfield (786-7117).
Background:

An electric-assisted bicycle (e-bike) is a bicycle with two or three wheels, a saddle, fully operative pedals for human propulsion, and an electric motor.  The motor must have a power output of no more than 750 watts and the e-bike must meet the requirements of one of the three following classifications:

  • class 1—in which the motor provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches 20 miles per hour;
  • class 2—in which the motor may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches 20 miles per hour; or
  • class 3—in which the motor provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches 28 miles per hour and is equipped with a speedometer.
Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are directed to undergo a public process to collect information related to electric-assisted bicycle (e-bike) use on natural surface trails and roads that are limited to non-motorized use to determine where e-bike operation may occur and which classes of e-bikes are acceptable on the roads and trails under the agencies' management.


The public process must include, at a minimum, input from a list of interested parties and user groups.  The WDFW and the DNR must report their findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2022.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.  New fiscal note requested on March 12, 2021.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.