Here’s some good news you didn’t know you needed: The King County Council has legalized riding Class 1 and 2 e-bikes as well as electric scooters on the county’s trails. I’m guessing most of you out there had no idea this was not already legal, and e-bike riders have been happily and safely riding there for many years.
The change came as part of a long-awaited major revision of King County Parks rules. Other changes included adding vapes to the definition of a tobacco product and removing a rule that made it illegal to have a picnic except in designated picnic areas. I bet you didn’t know you’ve been having illegal picnics this whole time. In fact, some of you absolute rebels have been illegally riding e-bikes to your illegal picnics. You got away with it, but just barely.
Everything in this story pertains only to trails operated by King County Parks, so it excludes trails operated by other jurisdictions such as Seattle. Seattle allowed e-bikes and scooters on trails years ago, and Seattle-operated trails do not have a mph-based speed limit or hours of operation.
The King County Council added language codifying e-bike classes to mirror state law and mesh with Snohomish and Pierce County rules. They also defined a “micromobility device” as “a personal vehicle meant to carry one or two passengers that has an electric motor and includes electric-assisted bicycles, motorized foot scooters, electric skateboards and other relatively small and lightweight electric devices that provide mobility.” They then exempted “micromobility devices” from the definition of a “motor vehicle.” So what this all means is that you can now ride an e-bike or scooter on trails that do not allow motor vehicles unless signage specifies otherwise. The Parks Director can define specific rules for specific trails at their discretion, but these limitations need to be posted.
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