Colorado E-Bike Rules Could Get More Complicated in Montrose

E-bike riders in Montrose may soon need to re-route. A new ordinance establishes a 15-mph speed limit for bikes and e-bikes on sidewalks, paths, and park trails. It will also limit where Class 3 e-bikes can operate.

City officials approved the changes this summer following concerns over higher-speed riding in areas shared with pedestrians and other cyclists. The City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 2726 on August 18, 2026.

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What Montrose's New E-Bike Ordinance Says

Colorado E-Bike Rules Could Get More Complicated in Montrose — Photo by Himiway Bikes on Unsplash

Montrose's updated ordinance establishes new rules for electric-assisted bicycles and other electric-assisted vehicles. One of the biggest changes for everyday riders is the 15-mph limit on sidewalks, paths, and park trails. The rules also prohibit riding off designated trails, sidewalks, and paths in city parks, with specific exceptions.

Not Every E-Bike Can Go Everywhere

Colorado’s three e-bike classes work differently. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes include motor assist up to 20 mph. Class 3 reaches 28 mph. Under the new Montrose rules, Class 1 and 2 e-bikes can go most places conventional bikes already go, while Class 3 e-bikes are restricted to streets and bike lanes only. They are not allowed on sidewalks, in parks, or on trails.

How Montrose's Rules Fit Colorado Law

man in blue t-shirt and gray shorts riding black bicycle — Photo by KBO Bike on Unsplash

The three e-bike classifications already in place in Colorado allow local governments to impose their own restrictions on e-bike use. The Montrose ordinance builds on that framework instead of reinventing the wheel with its own classification system. The city's stated concerns include higher-speed riding and conflicts involving pedestrians and other trail users. Similar restrictions were also put in place in Grand Junction earlier this summer.

Colorado E-Bike Use Is Up: 10 Safety Tips Riders Should Follow

In Grand Junction, it’s getting harder to hit the Riverfront Trail without seeing e-bikes zip past at noticeably higher speeds. With more than 28 miles of connected paved paths drawing commuters and recreational riders alike, the surge is impossible to ignore—and it’s starting to raise real safety questions about how these shared spaces are used.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

:Montrose Facts Every Colorado Local Should Know

From railroad-driven beginnings and major irrigation projects to surprising local history and rapid growth, this Western Slope town has more hidden layers than you’d expect. Here are 12 facts that show why Montrose is one of Colorado’s most interesting and overlooked communities.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

Grand Junction's

The annual Downtown Parade of Lights is coming up this Saturday, December 4, 2021. Did you know Grand Junction used to host a Bike Day parade back in the 1940s and 50s?

Gallery Credit: Waylon Jordan

Source: Colorado E-Bike Rules Could Get More Complicated in Montrose

Categories: Colorado News, Colorado Local