Philadelphia is a great city to explore by e-bike. It's relatively flat, has over 200 miles of bike lanes, and offers beautiful scenery along its rivers and parks. Here's everything you need to know to enjoy e-biking in Philly.
Philadelphia's Best E-Bike Trails
Schuylkill River Trail
This paved trail runs for 25 miles along the Schuylkill River, passing through downtown and Fairmount Park. It's perfect for e-bikes with scenic views and few hills.
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Ride down this grand boulevard from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to City Hall, with sights like Logan Circle and the Free Library of Philadelphia along the way.
Kelly Drive
Wind along Kelly Drive down the Schuylkill River from Boathouse Row to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Spot remnants of old mills, bridges, and more.
Delaware River Trail
Pedal north from Penn's Landing along the Delaware River. You'll travel through scenic parkland and see views of the river and Ben Franklin Bridge.
Philadelphia E-Bike Tours
Philly's Electric Bike Infrastructure
Philadelphia has been investing in its electric bike infrastructure in recent years in order to make the city more bike-friendly and to encourage the use of e-bikes as a mode of transportation. Some of the key elements of the city's e-bike infrastructure include:
Bike Lanes
Philadelphia has been expanding its network of bike lanes, which are also open to e-bikes. These lanes are marked with painted lines and/or physical barriers and are intended to separate bike traffic from motor vehicle traffic.
Bike-Sharing
The city's Indego bike-sharing program includes e-bikes, which can be rented for short trips around the city. Indego has over 400 e-bikes available and offers flexible pricing options, including pay-as-you-go and monthly memberships.
Public Charging Stations
The city has been installing public charging stations for e-bikes. These stations are typically located in high-traffic areas such as parks and near public transportation stations.
Renting an Electric Bike in Philly
Renting an electric bike in Philadelphia is a great way to explore the city and enjoy all it has to offer, without having to worry about the cost and maintenance of owning your own e-bike. There are several options for renting e-bikes in Philadelphia, including:
Indego Bike Share
Indego is the city's bike-sharing program, which includes e-bikes. With Indego, you can rent an e-bike for a short period of time, such as an hour or a day, and return it to any Indego station when you are finished. Prices vary depending on the type of membership or pass you purchase, you can find more information about Indego's pricing on their website.
Local bike shops
Many local bike shops in Philadelphia offer e-bike rental options, which can be a great way to try out different e-bike models and find one that you like before making a purchase.
Electric bike tour companies
Some tour companies in Philadelphia offer electric bike tours that include the rental of an e-bike. This can be a great way to see the city with a guide and learn more about its history and culture.
Philly's Best E-Bike Shops
Cadence Cycling
Cadence Cycling is a long-time bike shop that sells e-bikes from Giant, Trek and others. Service department to keep your e-bike running smoothly.
Tune Up Bike Shop
Tune Up Bike Shop is a neighborhood fixture in Philly that offers electric bikes to bike and a wide range of tune up and repair services.
Victory EBike
Specializes in electric bikes and scooters. Carries models from all the major e-bike brands.
Philadelphia's E-Bike Laws and Regulations:
- Safety Equipment: There is no helmet requirement.
- Road Rules: E-bikes are classified as bicycles under PA state law so they follow the same rules of the road. E-bikes must adhere to the same speed limit as bicycles.
- Bike Specifications: E-bikes need to have a motor below 750 watts, a max speed of 20 mph, a weight below 100 lbs, and operable pedals.
- Where to Ride: Pedal assist e-bikes with a 750W motor or less are permitted on most bike infrastructure like lanes, paths and trails. Throttled e-bikes are prohibited from bike lanes and trails.
- Age Restrictions: You can’t be under 16 and ride an electric bike.
- Administration Requirements: There is no license, registration, or insurance requirement for e-bikes.
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