E-bike numbers grow

#MiddleburyCT #EBikes

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM

E-bikes seem to be the latest craze, mainly among the younger set, although some adults can be seen using them to get around. In Middlebury, the number of e-bikes seen on the Greenway and outside Dunkin’ Donuts after school has been increasing. And with the increasing numbers has come the realization the town has no ordinances governing this mode of transportation along with the realization we all need to learn more about it. It’s concerning to many that some riders are behaving in ways that could result in serious injuries, either to themselves or to a bystander.

This article for the July 2026 issue went to press before the June 24, 2026, public meeting during which attendees shared their personal experiences with e-bikes and discussed ways to accommodate walkers, joggers, bicyclists and e-bikes on the Greenway. An article on that meeting will be forthcoming. In the meantime, this article provides basic information on e-bikes.

As for the safety concerns related to e-bikes, this reporter has witnessed a young rider going down the middle of a public road with his back to the traffic more than once, watched riders popping wheelies (which may be no more dangerous than popping a wheelie on an ordinary bicycle, for all we know) and seen some ride up a Greenway incline and, when they reached the top, turn onto the grass and ride the grassy area back to the bottom of the incline. Grass may be tough, but it’s doubtful it can survive constant e-bike traffic.

To help us all learn more about e-bikes, we’ve put together the following table that shows the basics of e-bike classification (there are three classes) and the safety and legal requirements related to e-bikes. You’ll see all e-bike riders are required to wear helmets while riding, yet not all do so.

Orange, Conn., Fire Marshal James Vincent said in a Facebook post that he is concerned e-bikes will grow in number now that school is out for the summer. While most kids with e-bikes are okay, he said, some are not, either because their bike isn’t legal in some way or they haven’t learned the manners or rules of the road. He said he saw what appeared to be a middle schooler riding an e-bike with no helmet while he talked on the phone.

Middlebury First Selectwoman Jennifer Mahr reported on Facebook that, on June 2, Middlebury Police responded to a complaint of juveniles riding e-bikes in a reckless manner at the Middlebury Commons Condo Complex. The same group of individuals was observed shortly thereafter on Nutmeg Road and instructed to stop by the responding officer. All but one individual complied immediately, the end result of which was the seizure of an e-dirt bike with a 2000 watt motor and top speed of nearly 40 mph. This bike is not authorized for use on the Greenway or in Middlebury, and the rider was also not authorized to ride it because of age.

Mahr said at a Parks and Recreation Commission meeting that her goal was to ensure as many users as possible can use the Greenway in the safest way possible. She said, “It is the main artery for our town, and both pedestrians and cyclists, especially youth cyclists, should be able to use it without hesitation.” She did, however, suggest a speed limit for the Greenway and mentioned Cheshire set the speed limit on its portion of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail at 12 mph. E-bike maximum speeds range from 20 to 28 mph.

Signs on the Greenway clearly state that motorized vehicles are not allowed, and some walkers, dog walkers and parents pushing baby carriages may object to having e-bikes there. E-bike rider parents, however, have said on Facebook they feel the Greenway is the one place in town where their children can safely ride. Hopefully, with lots of public input, town officials will develop a plan that accommodates everyone’s needs.