Bloomfield Hills families whose children ride e-bikes or electric mopeds to school should have a safety talk before classes resume the week of Sept. 8.
The district published a safety advisory on Wednesday, Sept. 2, developed with the Bloomfield Township Police Department. It warns that electric bikes and e-motos, which are higher-powered electric vehicles classified as motor vehicles under Michigan law, have grown popular among young riders. Communities across the area are seeing safety problems on streets, sidewalks and trails, the district said.
The advisory highlights school zones in particular. Parking lots, sidewalks, crosswalks and surrounding roads get crowded during drop-off and dismissal as students, families, staff and buses all move through the same space.
What the police department is asking
The Bloomfield Township Police Department's tips for young riders include:
- Slow down on and around school property, especially near pedestrians and vehicles.
- Follow traffic laws, signs and signals. Always yield to pedestrians.
- Know where riding is permitted. Rules vary by e-bike class.
- Wear a properly fitted helmet.
- Understand the difference between an e-bike and an e-moto.
E-bike vs. e-moto: why it matters
Under Michigan law, e-bikes must have fully operable pedals and a motor rated at no more than 750 watts. They fall into three classes, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:
- Class 1: Pedal-assist only, motor cuts out at 20 mph.
- Class 2: Throttle- and pedal-assisted, tops out at 20 mph.
- Class 3: Pedal-assist only, motor cuts out at 28 mph. Riders must be at least 14. Riders and passengers ages 14 to 18 must wear a helmet.
According to legal summaries of Michigan's e-bike statute, no license, registration or insurance is required for any class.
E-motos are a different category. Under DNR guidance, a vehicle is classified as an e-moto and treated as a motor vehicle under state law if it exceeds 750 watts of power, can exceed 28 mph under motor assist, functions primarily as a throttle-powered vehicle above 20 mph, or lacks fully operable pedals. Registration is required, and riders must follow all motor-vehicle regulations. E-motos are also banned from nonmotorized trails because they pose serious safety risks to other trail users, the DNR states.
The distinction matters for families because a vehicle that looks like a bicycle may legally be a motor vehicle, carrying different rules for where it can be ridden.
The district asked families to have the conversation before the first day of school. The advisory also points to an Oakland County Sheriff's Office infographic and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) website for more detail on classifications and riding rules. Classes resume the week of Sept. 8.
