340.01 (35) “Motor vehicle" means a vehicle, including a combination of 2 or more vehicles or an articulated vehicle, which is self-propelled, except a vehicle operated exclusively on a rail. “Motor vehicle" includes, without limitation, a commercial motor vehicle or a vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated on rails. A snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle, a utility terrain vehicle, an electric scooter, and an electric personal assistive mobility device shall be considered motor vehicles only for purposes made specifically applicable by statute. “Motor vehicle” does not include an electric bicycle.
34,9
Section
9. 340.01 (74p) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin Act 11, is amended to read:
340.01 (74p) (c) An operator of a moped, electric scooter, electric bicycle, or motor bicycle.
34,10
Section
10. 341.05 (23) of the statutes is amended to read:
341.05 (23) The vehicle is a motor bicycle, electric bicycle, or bicycle, except as provided in s. 349.18.
34,11
Section
11. 346.02 (4) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
346.02 (4) (title) Applicability to persons riding bicycles, electric bicycles, and motor bicycles.
34,12
Section
12. 346.02 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
346.02 (4) (a) Subject to the special provisions applicable to bicycles, every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway or shoulder of a highway is granted all the rights and is subject to all the duties which that this chapter grants or applies to the operator of a vehicle, except those provisions which that by their express terms apply only to motor vehicles or which that by their very nature would have no application to bicycles. For purposes of this chapter, provisions which that apply to bicycles also apply to electric bicycles and motor bicycles, except as otherwise expressly provided.
34,13
Section 13
. 346.806 of the statutes is created to read:
346.806 Special rules applicable to electric bicycles. (1) Except as otherwise expressly provided, an electric bicycle and an operator of an electric bicycle shall be afforded all the same rights and privileges, and be subject to the same duties, provided in chs. 340 to 351 as a bicycle or an operator of a bicycle. An electric bicycle shall be considered a vehicle to the same extent as a bicycle.
(2) A person operating an electric bicycle is not subject to the provisions under ch. 341, 342, 343, or 344 relating to financial responsibility, operator's licenses, registration, or certificates of title.
(3) (a) A person may ride, with the power unit in operation, an electric bicycle upon a bikeway, as defined under s. 84.60 (1) (a), under the jurisdiction of the department of natural resources, subject to any restrictions specified in a rule promulgated by the department of natural resources under s. 349.18 (4) (b), or under the jurisdiction of a municipality or county, subject to any restrictions specified in an ordinance enacted under s. 349.18 (4) (a).
(b) A person may ride, with the power unit in operation, an electric bicycle upon a bikeway, as defined under s. 84.60 (1) (a), under the jurisdiction of the department, subject to any restrictions specified in a rule promulgated by the department.
(4) No person under the age of 16 years may operate a class 3 electric bicycle. A person under the age of 16 years may ride as a passenger on a class 3 electric bicycle that is designed to accommodate passengers.
34,14
Section
14. 347.02 (1) (em) of the statutes is created to read:
347.02 (1) (em) Electric bicycles.
34,15
Section
15. 347.489 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
347.489 (3m) (a) 1. After January 1, 2018, a manufacturer or distributor of electric bicycles shall permanently affix to the electric bicycle a label containing all of the following information in Arial font of a minimum size of 9 point:
a. The classification number of the electric bicycle.
b. The speed at which the motor will cease to provide assistance or power.
c. The wattage of the motor equipped to the electric bicycle.
2. If a person modifies an electric bicycle so as to change the classification of the electric bicycle, the person shall prepare and affix to the electric bicycle a revised label satisfying the requirements of subd. 1.
(b) An electric bicycle shall meet the requirements of 16 CFR Part 1512, as if the electric bicycle were a bicycle as defined under 16 CFR 1512.2 (a).
(c) An electric bicycle shall operate so that the motor ceases to provide assistance or power when the brakes are applied or the motor ceases to provide assistance or power when the rider stops pedaling.
(d) No person may operate a class 3 electric bicycle unless the electric bicycle is equipped with a speedometer that with reasonable accuracy registers the speed of the electric bicycle in miles per hour.
34,16
Section
16. 349.18 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
349.18 (4) (a) The governing body of a municipality or county may by ordinance prohibit the operation, with the power unit in operation, of electric bicycles on bikeways, as defined under s. 84.60 (1) (a), under its jurisdiction.
(b) The department of natural resources may promulgate rules prohibiting the operation, with the power unit in operation, of electric bicycles on bikeways, as defined under s. 84.60 (1) (a), under its jurisdiction.
