1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; amending operation requirements and regulation 
1.3 	of electric-assisted bicycles; permitting electric-assisted bicycle operation on 
1.4 	bikeways and bicycle trails;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 85.015, 
1.5 	by adding a subdivision; 85.018, subdivisions 2, 4; 160.263, subdivision 2; 
1.6 	169.011, subdivision 27; 169.223, subdivision 5.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 85.015, is amended by adding a 
1.9 	subdivision to read:
1.10 		Subd. 1d.Bicycle use of trails. The commissioner may not prohibit operation of an 
1.11 	electric-assisted bicycle, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 27, on any trail under 
1.12 	this section for which bicycle use is permitted.

1.13 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 85.018, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.14 		Subd. 2.Authority of local government. (a) A local government unit that receives 
1.15 	state grants-in-aid for any trail, with the concurrence of the commissioner, and the 
1.16 	landowner or land lessee, may:
1.17 	(1) designate the trail for use by snowmobiles or for nonmotorized use from 
1.18 	December 1 to April 1 of any year; and
1.19 	(2) issue any permit required under subdivisions 3 to 5.
1.20 	(b) A local government unit that receives state grants-in-aid under section 84.794, 
1.21 	subdivision 2, 84.803, subdivision 2, or 84.927, subdivision 2, for any trail, with the 
1.22 	concurrence of the commissioner, and landowner or land lessee, may:
1.23 	(1) designate the trail specifically for use at various times of the year by all-terrain or 
1.24 	off-road vehicles or off-highway motorcycles, for nonmotorized use such as ski touring, 
2.1 	snowshoeing, and hiking, and for multiple use, but not for motorized and nonmotorized 
2.2 	use at the same time; and
2.3 	(2) issue any permit required under subdivisions 3 to 5.
2.4 	(c) A local unit of government that receives state grants-in-aid for any trail, with the 
2.5 	concurrence of the commissioner and landowner or land lessee, may designate certain 
2.6 	trails for joint use by snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and 
2.7 	off-road vehicles.
2.8 	(d) A local unit of government may not prohibit operation of an electric-assisted 
2.9 	bicycle, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 27, on any trail under this section 
2.10 	designated for bicycle use or nonmotorized use that includes bicycles.

2.11 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 85.018, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.12 		Subd. 4.Nonmotorized use trails. (a) No motorized vehicle shall be operated on a 
2.13 	trail designated for nonmotorized use. This subdivision does not apply to (1) motorized 
2.14 	wheelchairs or other motorized devices operated by an individual who is physically 
2.15 	disabled and (2) electric-assisted bicycles, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 27.

2.16 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 160.263, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.17 		Subd. 2.Powers of political subdivisions. (a) The governing body of any political 
2.18 	subdivision may by ordinance or resolution:
2.19 	(1) designate any roadway or shoulder or portion thereof under its jurisdiction as 
2.20 	a bicycle lane or bicycle route;
2.21 	(2) designate any sidewalk or portion thereof under its jurisdiction as a bicycle path 
2.22 	provided that the designation does not destroy a pedestrian way or pedestrian access;
2.23 	(3) develop and designate bicycle paths;
2.24 	(4) designate as bikeways all bicycle lanes, bicycle routes, and bicycle paths.
2.25 	(b) A governing body may not prohibit operation of an electric-assisted bicycle, as 
2.26 	defined in section 169.011, subdivision 27, on any bikeway, roadway, or shoulder.

2.27 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 169.011, subdivision 27, is amended to read:
2.28 		Subd. 27.Electric-assisted bicycle. "Electric-assisted bicycle" means a motor 
2.29 	vehicle bicycle with two or three wheels that:
2.30 	(1) has a saddle and fully operable pedals for human propulsion;
2.31 	(2) meets the requirements:
2.32 	(i) of federal motor vehicle safety standards in Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, 
2.33 	sections 571.1 et seq.; or
3.1 	(ii) for bicycles under Code of Federal Regulations, title 15, part 1512, and successor 
3.2 	requirements; and
3.3 	(3) has an electric motor that (i) has a power output of not more than 1,000 watts, (ii) 
3.4 	is incapable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour, (iii) is 
3.5 	incapable of further increasing the speed of the device when human power alone is used 
3.6 	to propel the vehicle at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour, and (iv) disengages or 
3.7 	ceases to function when the vehicle's brakes are applied.

3.8 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 169.223, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
3.9 		Subd. 5.Other operation requirements and prohibitions. (a) A person operating 
3.10 	a motorized bicycle on a roadway shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb 
3.11 	or edge of the roadway except in one of the following situations:
3.12 	(1) when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
3.13 	(2) when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or 
3.14 	driveway; or
3.15 	(3) when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions, including fixed or moving 
3.16 	objects, vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or narrow width lanes, that make 
3.17 	it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge.
3.18 	(b) Persons operating motorized bicycles on a roadway may not ride more than two 
3.19 	abreast and may not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. On a laned 
3.20 	roadway, a person operating a motorized bicycle shall ride within a single lane.
3.21 	(c) This section does not permit the operation of a motorized bicycle on a bicycle 
3.22 	path or bicycle lane that is reserved for the exclusive use of nonmotorized traffic.
3.23 	(d) Subject to the provisions of section 160.263, subdivision 3, A person may 
3.24 	operate an electric-assisted bicycle on a bikeway or bicycle lane trail. A person may 
3.25 	operate an electric-assisted bicycle on the shoulder of a roadway if the electric-assisted 
3.26 	bicycle is traveling in the same direction as the adjacent vehicular traffic.