MAPS pauses e-bike and e-trike authorizations after DOT guidance warns of penalties
August 28, 2026 | Commission on Aging and Disability, Deparments in Office of the Governor, Organizations, Executive, Tennessee
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DDA MAPS announced a pause on authorizations for e-bikes and e-trikes after new Department of Transportation guidance, effective July 1, 2026, changed how those vehicles are regulated.
"One of the biggest risks now is that there are penalties for not following new requirements, and that can result in travelers including MAPS participants receiving a misdemeanor for not following the road laws," said Kyle Baughman, DDA MAPS Director. He told providers the program will not be "flippant" about issuing devices that could expose participants to criminal penalties.
Baughman said DDA has assembled a multidisciplinary team to review how to safely authorize e-bikes and e-trikes. Staff will evaluate participants' living location, device class, and routes before approving any referral; in many cases the team expects to require an external entity willing to validate the safety plan and sign off as an arbiter.
The program noted a limited exception: if a participant's milestone statement explicitly lists an e-bike or e-trike as a pivotal intervention, staff may progress the referral, but only after a comprehensive review. Providers were urged to continue giving feedback through the MAPS feedback form as staff explore options to resume authorizations without exposing participants to enforcement risk.
Why it matters: MAPS has relied on enabling-technology innovations to expand participant independence. The DOT guidance creates a legal and operational hurdle that could restrict a device class that many providers have been using in transportation supports.
"One of the biggest risks now is that there are penalties for not following new requirements, and that can result in travelers including MAPS participants receiving a misdemeanor for not following the road laws," said Kyle Baughman, DDA MAPS Director. He told providers the program will not be "flippant" about issuing devices that could expose participants to criminal penalties.
Baughman said DDA has assembled a multidisciplinary team to review how to safely authorize e-bikes and e-trikes. Staff will evaluate participants' living location, device class, and routes before approving any referral; in many cases the team expects to require an external entity willing to validate the safety plan and sign off as an arbiter.
The program noted a limited exception: if a participant's milestone statement explicitly lists an e-bike or e-trike as a pivotal intervention, staff may progress the referral, but only after a comprehensive review. Providers were urged to continue giving feedback through the MAPS feedback form as staff explore options to resume authorizations without exposing participants to enforcement risk.
Why it matters: MAPS has relied on enabling-technology innovations to expand participant independence. The DOT guidance creates a legal and operational hurdle that could restrict a device class that many providers have been using in transportation supports.
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