First Selectman, Police Chief Release Joint Statement On E-Bikes, Responsible Riding In Trumbull

TRUMBULL, CT — First Selectman Vicki Tesoro and Chief of Police Michael Lombardo released a joint statement Thursday regarding e-bikes and responsible riding in Trumbull.

The following joint message was provided by the Trumbull Police Department on July 16, 2026:

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Trumbull is a community where families enjoy our neighborhoods, parks, sidewalks, and trails every day. As more children and teens choose bicycles and electric bicycles as a way to get around and enjoy the outdoors, we all share a responsibility to ensure they do so safely.

Over the past several months, our town has seen a rise in concerns involving electric bicycles (e-bikes), motorized bikes, and scooters operated by children and teens on our roads, sidewalks, parks, and other public spaces. Parents, neighbors, motorists, pedestrians, and public safety personnel alike have raised these concerns.

The Town can only enforce laws established by the State of Connecticut and our local ordinances. Our Police Department cannot create new state laws, and our ability to regulate these vehicles is limited by what state law currently allows. Enforcement alone will not solve this problem. We need the partnership of parents and guardians to help keep our children safe.

What Connecticut Law Requires

Operators of electric bicycles generally have the same rights and responsibilities as traditional bicyclists and must obey all applicable traffic laws.

• Helmets
  • Every person operating or riding as a passenger on an e-bike must wear a properly fitted helmet meeting recognized safety standards.
  • Anyone under 18 must wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, e-bike, scooter, or skateboard.
• Age Restrictions
  • No one under 16 may operate a Class 3 e-bike (pedal-assisted speeds up to 28 mph). These are not toys and should never be treated as such.
• Vehicle Classification
  • Not every vehicle marketed as an "e-bike" legally qualifies as one. Higherpowered vehicles, particularly those without operable pedals or with motors exceeding 750 watts, may be classified as motor-driven cycles or motorcycles. Depending on the vehicle, this may require a valid driver's license, registration, insurance, and compliance with additional motor vehicle laws. Aftermarket modifications can also remove a vehicle from the legal definition of an electric bicycle.
  • Where They Can Be Ridden
    • Class 3 e-bikes are generally prohibited on bicycle paths and multi-use trails unless specifically authorized.
    • Riders must obey stop signs, traffic signals, speed limits, and other rules of the road.
    • Reckless riding, weaving through traffic, or ignoring traffic controls puts everyone at risk.
• One Rider Per Vehicle
  • Connecticut law prohibits carrying a passenger unless the bicycle, e-bike, or scooter is specifically designed for it. If a vehicle is built for one rider, there should be only one rider, no doubling up, no standing on pegs, no balancing on the back. In a crash, these actions can have devastating consequences.

A Quick Checklist for Parents

• What is my child riding — a legal Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike, or a higher-powered motorized vehicle?
• Does it have operable pedals?
• Is it designed to carry more than one rider?
• Is my child legally old enough to operate it?
• Does my child understand that traffic laws apply to them just like everyone else?
• Is my child wearing a helmet every time they ride?

What the Town Is Doing

The Trumbull Police Department has been awarded a nearly $5,000 grant through the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and the Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG) to support bicycle and e-bike safety initiatives. The grant will fund helmets and educational materials distributed at community safety events.

In addition, the Town is actively looking into a local ordinance to further address unsafe e-bike and motorized vehicle use, and we intend to bring a proposal forward for consideration over the next month.

This builds on the department's ongoing safety efforts and will support the upcoming National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at Indian Ledge Park. The event will include bicycle safety information, free properly fitted helmets (while supplies last), and education on Connecticut's bicycle and e-bike laws.

Public safety is strongest when local government, law enforcement, parents, and the community work together. We encourage every parent and guardian to have this conversation at home today, before a preventable accident occurs — understand the law, insist on safe riding habits, make sure helmets are worn every time, and choose age-appropriate, legal vehicles.

Vicki A. Tesoro

First Selectman

Michael Lombardo

Chief of Police