Electric-assisted bicycles, the official text

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

    Sixty-eighth Legislature              Second Regular Session - 2026

                   IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                HOUSE BILL NO. 500

               BY JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

1                               AN ACT

2 RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AMENDING SECTION 49-615, IDAHO CODE, TO RE-

3   VISE PROVISIONS REGARDING THE EXERCISE OF DUE CARE; AMENDING SECTION

4   49-714, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR ELECTRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLES; AMEND-

5   ING SECTION 49-715, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLES,

6   BICYCLES, AND ELECTRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLES AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL COR-

7   RECTION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

9   SECTION 1. That Section 49-615, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby

10 amended to read as follows:

11  49-615. DRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CARE. Notwithstanding other provi-

12 sions of this title or the provisions of any local ordinance, every driver of

13 a motor vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedes-

14 trian or any person propelling operator or rider of a human-powered vehicle,

15 bicycle, or electric-assisted bicycle and shall give an audible signal when

16 necessary. Every driver of a motor vehicle shall exercise proper precaution

17 upon observing any child or any obviously confused, incapacitated, or intox-

18 icated person.

19  SECTION 2. That Section 49-714, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby

20 amended to read as follows:

21  49-714. TRAFFIC LAWS APPLY TO PERSONS ON BICYCLES AND OTHER HUMAN-POW-

22 ERED VEHICLES OPERATORS OR RIDERS OF HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLES, BICYCLES, OR

23 ELECTRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLES -- DUE CARE. (1) Every person operating a vehi-

24 cle propelled by human power or riding a bicycle Every operator or rider of a

25 human-powered vehicle, bicycle, or electric-assisted bicycle shall have all

26 of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other ve-

27 hicle under the provisions of chapters 6 and 8 of this title, except as oth-

28 erwise provided in this chapter and except as to those provisions which by

29 their nature can have no application.

30  (2) Every operator or rider of a bicycle or human-powered vehicle

31 human-powered vehicle, bicycle, or electric-assisted bicycle shall exer-

32 cise due care.

33  SECTION 3. That Section 49-715, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby

34 amended to read as follows:

35  49-715. RIDING ON BICYCLES HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLES, BICYCLES, OR ELEC-

36 TRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLES. (1) A person propelling a bicycle shall not No oper-

37 ator or rider of a human-powered vehicle, bicycle, or electric-assisted bi-

38 cycle shall ride other than upon on or astride an attached permanent and reg-

39 ular seat.
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1  (2) No bicycle or human-propelled vehicle human-powered vehicle, bicy-

2 cle, or electric-assisted bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one

3 (1) time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

4  (3) An adult rider may carry a child securely attached to his person in a

5 backpack or sling or in a child carrier attached to the bicycle a human-pow-

6 ered vehicle, bicycle, or electric-assisted bicycle.

7  SECTION 4. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby

8 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after

9 July 1, 2026.