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The absence of motor vehicles in Mackinac Island State Park is uniquely effective in retaining the historic character of this National Historic Landmark. State law currently forbids the use of e-bikes within Mackinac Island State Park and the City of Mackinac Island without authorization from those respective entities. However, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and City of Mackinac Island do have the following exception:
Use of Class I electric assist tricycles/bicycles for persons with disabilities as that term is defined in 42 USC 12102 is permitted in the Mackinac Island State Park in accordance to MISPC procedures.
Class I e-bikes are pedal-assist only and have a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. A Class I e-bike typically is equipped with an electric motor of not more than 750 watts, and the motor must only engage when the rider is pedaling. Because they are pedal-assist only, they can both accommodate persons with disabilities that would otherwise be unable to enjoy the practice of riding a traditional bicycle, and also help preserve the island’s century-old motorized ambiance characterized by horses and traditional bicycles. The exception outlined above is similar to an ordinance passed by the City of Mackinac Island.
If your e-bike has a throttle to engage the motor, that e-bike is not allowed in the City of Mackinac Island or in Mackinac Island State Park.
All e-bikes must have a label affixed somewhere on the bike that denotes whether it is a Class I, Class II, or Class III electric bike. If a bike does not have a label on it, the rider may prove that the e-bike is a Class I bike or that it has been modified to meet that definition.
