E-bikes are rolling into the spotlight across Minnesota this spring, and Saint Cloud is taking the lead on safety. City officials announced Thursday a new education and trail-share initiative aimed at the growing number of electric bike riders on the Lake Wobegon and Beaver Island trails.

The program comes after e-bike sales jumped 42% statewide in the last year, with Stearns County seeing some of the fastest growth, according to Minnesota Department of Transportation data.

We�re seeing everyone from college students at SCSU to retirees using e-bikes for commuting, errands, and recreation, said Carla Jensen, Saint Cloud Parks and Recreation director. With more people on the trails at 20+ mph, we want to make sure pedestrians, traditional cyclists, and e-bike riders all understand the rules of the road.

Minnesota law currently allows Class 1 and 2 e-bikes on most bike paths and trails, while Class 3 e-bikes are restricted to roadways and state trails unless local ordinances say otherwise. Saint Cloud will continue allowing Class 3 bikes on city trails but will require riders to keep speeds under 15 mph when pedestrians are present.

Local bike shop owners say the move is overdue. �Half our sales this year have been e-bikes,� said Mark Ellingson, owner of Riverside Cycle in downtown Saint Cloud. �People love them for getting up the hills by the VA or commuting from Waite Park without showing up to work sweaty. But a lot of first-time buyers don�t know the laws.

?The city will also partner with Saint Cloud Police to run �light and bell� checks starting June 1. Riders without required lights after dusk or a working bell/horn could face a $25 warning citation, with fees waived if they attend a safety class.

Minnesota�s 2023 e-bike rebate program, which offered up to $1,500 back on qualifying purchases, helped fuel demand statewide. While state funding ran out last fall, lawmakers are debating a new bill that would make the rebate permanent.

For now, Saint Cloud officials hope education keeps pace with adoption. �We�re not trying to slow anyone down,� Jensen said. �We just want everyone to get home safe.�

The first safety class is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m. at the Saint Cloud Library. Registration is free for Saint Cloud residents.

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