Police chiefs and manufacturers press lawmakers to balance safety and accessibility in e-bike, scooter rules

The Transportation Committee heard two competing perspectives on HB 6862, which would update Connecticut's rules for electric scooters, e-bikes and motor-driven cycles.

Josh Berninger of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association said enforcement has been frustrated by devices that look like bicycles but can be modified or designed to exceed 28 miles per hour. "We're no longer talking about a bicycle. We're talking about an electric motorcycle," he told the committee and urged registration, insurance and licensing for high-power two-wheelers.

Manufacturers and retailers said the law must preserve legitimate consumer mobility options and avoid imposing unworkable technical compliance burdens. Matt Schell of Spark Cycle Works, a Connecticut manufacturer, urged clear product classes, cautioned that a 1,500‑watt threshold may not match practical acceleration needs, and explained that phone apps are widely used for diagnostics and power-mode programming during manufacture and repair.

Trail access and helmet rules drew sustained debate. Safety witnesses supported identification labels, limits on altering vehicles and expanded helmet requirements; several industry speakers said class 1/2/3 distinctions are common nationally and urged careful review to allow cargo and ADA‑assisted uses. Committee members requested additional technical guidance from manufacturers, police and DOT to refine wattage/speed thresholds, registration rules and trail access language before advancing the bill.