Michigan SB 1156 Would Restrict E-Bike Riding for Children Under 14

Last Updated on September 15, 2026 by Kristina

LANSING, Mich. – September 15, 2026 – Michigan lawmakers are considering a new statewide restriction that would prevent children under 14 from operating an electric bike on public roads, sidewalks or trails, with an exception in the bill for congressionally authorized public trail systems.

Senate Bill 1156, introduced by state Sen. Jim Runestad on September 10, would also add helmet and parental-permission requirements for some older minors and establish penalties for repeat violations. Riders can review Electric Bike Explorer’s Michigan e-bike law guide for the rules currently in effect, and follow the Electric Bike News archive for future updates.

The proposal has been referred to the Michigan Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. It has not passed the Legislature and is not current Michigan law.

Current Status of Michigan Senate Bill 1156

Current status: Introduced and referred to committee.

SB 1156 was formally introduced on September 10, 2026, and referred to the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

That distinction is important. The proposed age, permission and penalty provisions described below are not currently in effect.

The bill would amend Section 662a of the Michigan Vehicle Code, which already contains Michigan’s primary rules for electric bicycles.

What Michigan SB 1156 Would Change

The biggest proposed change is a new statewide age restriction covering qualifying electric bicycles.

Under the introduced bill, a person under 14 could not operate an electric bicycle on a:

• Public road
• Sidewalk
• Trail

However, the bill also states that the new provisions in subsections (6) through (12) would not apply to a congressionally authorized public trail system. That means the proposed youth restrictions should not be described as applying to every public trail without exception.

The proposal goes beyond Michigan’s current age restriction, which applies specifically to operating a Class 3 e-bike.

SB 1156 would also impose additional requirements on older minors.

As introduced, the bill says a rider who is older than 14 but younger than 18 could operate an e-bike on a public road, sidewalk or trail only if the rider:

• Wears a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet meeting the standards specified in the bill, and
• Has written permission from a parent or legal guardian, or has a parent or legal guardian present and supervising the rider.

If you are unfamiliar with the differences among Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 bikes, my guide to electric bike classes explains how the three classifications work.

The Bill Includes Warnings, Fines and Possible Impoundment

SB 1156 would create a specific enforcement structure for minors who violate the new age and supervision rules.

For a first violation, the introduced bill calls for a warning and an order requiring the minor to attend a mandatory safety education class.

For a second or later violation, the minor could face a civil fine of up to $100 and possible impoundment of the electric bicycle.

The bill also addresses people who knowingly allow a minor to violate the proposed requirements.

An individual who knowingly allows a minor to operate an electric bicycle in violation of the proposed age or supervision requirements could be responsible for a state civil infraction and face a civil fine of up to $250.

One Part of the Bill Needs Clarification for 14-Year-Old Riders

There is an important wording issue in the introduced bill.

One new subsection prohibits riders who are younger than 14 from operating an e-bike on public roads, sidewalks or trails.

The following subsection applies the helmet and parental-permission requirements to riders who are “older than 14 years of age but less than 18 years of age.”

Read literally, that wording appears to leave a rider who is exactly 14 years old between the two new provisions.

That may be clarified through an amendment or during the legislative process, but I would not assume the intended rule for exactly 14-year-old riders until the bill language is changed or lawmakers provide a clear legal explanation.

How This Compares With Michigan E-Bike Law Now

Michigan already has an age restriction for Class 3 e-bikes.

Under current Section 257.662a of the Michigan Vehicle Code, a person under 14 may not operate a Class 3 electric bicycle, although a child under 14 may ride as a passenger on a Class 3 bike designed to carry passengers.

Current law also requires a person under 18 who operates or rides as a passenger on a Class 3 e-bike to wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet meeting the standards identified in the statute.

SB 1156 would significantly broaden the age restriction by adding a separate rule covering electric bicycles generally when operated on public roads, sidewalks and trails, subject to the bill’s exception for congressionally authorized public trail systems.

In practical terms, that means the proposal would reach qualifying Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes as well as Class 3 bikes in the places covered by the bill.

This Bill Is About Legal E-Bikes – Not Every High-Powered Electric Two-Wheeler

Another important distinction is what Michigan legally considers an electric bicycle.

Michigan law says a device is no longer considered an electric bicycle under this section if its motor is modified so that it falls outside the statutory e-bike criteria or if the motor exceeds 750 watts.

That matters because public discussions about youth e-bike safety frequently mix traditional Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes with faster electric motorcycles and e-motos.

Axios Detroit recently highlighted that distinction while reporting on SB 1156. The outlet reported that two 13-year-old boys were critically injured September 7 while riding an e-moto that was struck by a pickup truck in Bloomfield Township.

Axios also reported that Runestad’s office said the e-moto involved in that crash would not be covered by SB 1156 because the proposal is aimed at electric bicycles.

That distinction is important for parents and policymakers. A rule written for legally defined e-bikes does not necessarily regulate every high-powered electric two-wheeler that riders or news reports may casually call an “e-bike.”

Why Sen. Runestad Says the Bill Is Needed

Runestad announced the proposal on September 9 and said he is concerned about children being seriously injured while operating electric bikes.

His office argues that the speed and power available from e-bikes can exceed what some young children are prepared to manage safely.

The senator’s announcement also points to increasing local attention to e-bike use in Michigan.

SB 1156 would move part of that debate to the statewide level by establishing broader age restrictions for qualifying e-bikes in the locations covered by the proposal if the Legislature ultimately approves it.

What Happens Next

For now, SB 1156 remains a proposal.

The bill was referred to the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee after its September 10 introduction.

There is no new statewide under-14 restriction created merely by introducing the bill.

If SB 1156 eventually becomes law, its own effective-date provision says the amendment would take effect 90 days after enactment.

Until then, riders and parents should continue following Michigan’s existing e-bike laws along with any applicable city, trail, park or other local restrictions.

📰 How This Story Was Verified

This report is based on available official documents, agency statements, meeting records, court filings, or other primary sources, with reliable reporting used for additional context. I clearly distinguish proposals from rules that have been finally approved or taken effect.

My Take

I think the most useful part of this proposal is that it forces Michigan to have a clearer conversation about the difference between legal e-bikes and faster electric motorcycles or e-motos.

Those vehicles are regularly lumped together, but they do not necessarily fall under the same laws.

At the same time, the wording involving riders who are exactly 14 should be clarified before this proposal goes much further. Age restrictions and penalties need to be understandable to parents, riders and the officers expected to enforce them.

The exception for congressionally authorized public trail systems is another detail riders should be aware of. It means the proposed restriction is not as simple as saying children under 14 would be barred from every public trail in Michigan.

I would also watch whether lawmakers broaden the discussion beyond traditional e-bikes. If the safety concern driving legislation involves high-powered devices that do not legally qualify as electric bicycles, lawmakers may eventually need to address those vehicles separately.

Electric Bike Explorer will continue following SB 1156 as it moves through the Michigan Legislature and will update this report if the bill is amended, receives a committee vote, passes either chamber or becomes law.

Sources

• Michigan Senate Bill 1156 introduced text
• Michigan Vehicle Code Section 257.662a
• Sen. Jim Runestad announcement on proposed e-bike regulations
• Axios Detroit report on Michigan youth e-bike restrictions