E-bike use on the rise in Boulder County. Here’s what you need to know

If you’ve driven in Boulder or Longmont recently, chances are you’ve seen a rider zip by on an electric bicycle.

E-bikes have become an increasingly popular way to get around Boulder County in recent years, and as their popularity has grown, so have safety concerns. The rules for riding them can be confusing and difficult to enforce, police say.

Boulder Police Traffic Sergeant Bryon Scott says Boulder officers see young e-bike riders on a “daily basis.”

“Every school year we see more and more of these e-bikes and people using them to commute back and forth to school,” Scott said. “This year, it seems like we have more than ever.”

E-bikes fall into three categories based primarily on speed. Those that can reach speeds of up to 20 mph are considered class-one or class-two. Class-one e-bi