NYC e-bike laws and electric scooter rules for 2026, in plain words

What counts as an electric scooter in New York

Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law section 114-e, an electric scooter weighs under 100 lb and has a top speed of 20 mph or less on the motor. Both limits matter.

A model that weighs 100 lb or more, or that can go faster than 20 mph on the motor, falls outside the definition, so the rules for electric scooters do not cover it. Many performance models are in that group, including every model in our guide to the fastest electric scooters. If you ride in the city, they are the wrong choice.

What counts as an e-bike, and the three classes

Under section 102-c, an e-bike has working pedals, is no wider than 36 inches and has an electric motor under 750 W. New York sorts e-bikes into three classes:

• Class 1: pedal assist up to 20 mph. The motor helps only while you pedal and stops helping at 20 mph.
• Class 2: throttle up to 20 mph. The motor can move the bike without pedaling, and stops helping at 20 mph.
• Class 3: pedal assist up to 25 mph. Allowed in New York City. The motor helps only while you pedal and stops helping at 25 mph.

A ride with a motor of 750 W or more, no working pedals, or more speed than its class allows is not an e-bike under state law, even if it is sold as one. Check the motor rating and top speed on the product page, and check with the NY DMV if you are unsure how a model is classed.

The 15 mph speed limit

Since October 24, 2025, the NYC Department of Transportation has set a 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes and electric scooters on city streets and park paths in all five boroughs. It applies whatever your ride can do. A class 3 e-bike that assists to 25 mph, or an electric scooter that reaches 20 mph, still has to stay at 15 mph or below in the city.

Most rides make this easy. Many have riding modes you pick on the display, such as the ECO, D and S modes on the INMOTION Air, and some let you set a top speed in an app. Pick the mode that keeps you at 15 mph and leave it there. A GPS app on your phone is a good check, since the display on the handlebar can read a little high.

The limit is a maximum, not a target. Ride slower in busy bike lanes, near crossings and wherever people walk.

Where to ride: bike lanes, not sidewalks

Bike lanes are where e-bikes and electric scooters belong. Riding on the sidewalk is not allowed.

• Use the bike lane where there is one, and ride in the same direction as traffic.
• Where there is no bike lane, ride with traffic and stay predictable.
• Yield to people walking, at crossings and in shared spaces.
• Follow the signs in parks and on bridges, which may add their own rules.
• Park upright and out of the way of sidewalks, ramps, doorways and bus stops.

The UL rule for every sale: Local Law 39

NYC Local Law 39 of 2023 took effect on September 16, 2023. It allows only these rides and batteries to be sold, leased or rented in the city:

• E-bikes with UL 2849 certification.
• Electric scooters with UL 2272 certification.
• Batteries with UL 2271 certification.

Sellers who break the rule face civil penalties. For riders, the rule is also a useful filter: these marks show that the battery, charger and drive system passed fire and electrical safety tests. A spare or replacement battery bought in the city needs UL 2271 certification too. Our guide UL 2272, UL 2849 and UL 2271 explained shows how to check a mark and a listing.

Models that meet the NYC rules

Our NYC street legal page lists every scooter and e-bike in our catalog that meets these rules, and it updates as products change. Here is a selection of in-stock models. Each of these electric scooters tops out at 20 mph or less, weighs well under 100 lb and lists UL 2272 certification:

Maker figures, checked September 2026. Real range and speed depend on rider weight, terrain, temperature and riding mode.

Each of these e-bikes has a motor under 750 W, assists to 25 mph or less and lists UL 2849 certification:

Maker figures, checked September 2026. Real range and speed depend on rider weight, terrain, temperature and riding mode.

A few notes. The Segway F3 lists a rider age of 16+, weighs 42.3 lbs and is rated IPX6. The Gyroor C33 folds and lists UL 2271 for its battery as well as UL 2849 for the bike, per Gyroor. For the Hiboy EX6, Hiboy lists a higher speed with pedal assist than on the throttle, up to 25 mph. Most models here can go faster than 15 mph in their top mode, so choose a lower one in the city.

A quick checklist for NYC riders

• An electric scooter under 100 lb that tops out at 20 mph or less, or an e-bike with working pedals, a motor under 750 W and a class that fits.
• UL 2272 certification for an electric scooter or UL 2849 for an e-bike, and UL 2271 for any spare battery.
• A riding mode that keeps you at 15 mph or below.
• Bike lanes, never sidewalks.
• Lights front and rear, a bell or horn, and a helmet on every ride.

State law also sets age and helmet rules for some riders and some classes. Check them on nyc.gov or the NY DMV website before you ride. Buying for a teenager? See choosing an electric scooter for teens.

Ready to choose? Browse the electric scooter shop and the electric bike shop. Every order ships free to the lower 48 states, and you can split the cost with Pay in 4 or monthly payments.

Questions riders ask