E-Bikes Are Going Mainstream: Upway and E-Bike Sense Launch Free "Safe Start" Course to Help Riders Nationwide Know the Rules

• E-bikes now account for roughly 34% of U.S. bicycle sales revenue, across all retail, direct-to-consumer, and used marketplaces, according to PeopleForBikes' 2024 Impact Report. They are replacing car trips, reducing commute times, and providing affordable access to mobility.
  
  
• States and cities are acting to help buyers tell real e-bikes from look-alikes. California's SB 1167 will require a clear class and top-speed label on every e-bike sold, starting January 1, 2027. In New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration sent cease-and-desist orders in August 2026 to 42 online retailers over devices marketed as e-bikes that don't meet the legal definition.
  
  
• In response, Upway and E-Bike Sense are launching Safe Start: a free, six-module course that helps riders anywhere in the U.S. buy a street-legal e-bike, know the rules, and ride with confidence. No purchase required.

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- E-bikes are rapidly becoming a mainstream way to get around in the U.S. They now account for roughly 34% of U.S. bicycle sales revenue, across all retail, direct-to-consumer, and used marketplaces, according to PeopleForBikes' 2024 Impact Report, and they are replacing car trips, cutting commute times, and giving more people affordable access to mobility. They are also attracting new riders who have never traveled on two wheels.

With this growth come new questions for buyers. Some high-powered e-motos are marketed as e-bikes, and it can be hard to tell the difference. Policymakers are responding. California's SB 1167, which takes effect January 1, 2027, will require a clear class and top-speed label on every e-bike sold in the state. In August, New York City sent cease-and-desist orders to 42 online retailers over illegal, high-powered devices marketed as e-bikes but built more like unregistered mopeds.

In response, Upway, the largest marketplace for professionally refurbished e-bikes in the U.S., and E-Bike Sense, founded by Megan Lamb, who is certified by the League of American Bicyclists, today launched Safe Start, a free e-bike safety course open to anyone in the country, regardless of where they bought their bike. The six-module video course takes about 50 minutes and is live now at upway.co/pages/safety.

None of this is a reason to hesitate about e-bikes. It's a reason for clarity. A properly classified, certified e-bike remains a straightforward, legal, low-maintenance way to get around. Upway and E-Bike Sense built Safe Start to help riders buy the real thing, know the rules, and ride with confidence, whether or not they ever set foot in an Upway store.

What Safe Start covers

Safe Start covers the full arc of e-bike ownership: telling a legal Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike apart from an illegal, high-powered e-moto; helmet fit and MIPS technology; brake mechanics; battery safety and spotting a counterfeit charger; riding confidently in traffic, from emergency stops to reading intersections; and long-term maintenance, battery care, and theft prevention.

Quick tips for reporters and readers: is it actually a legal e-bike?

• Speed does not exceed 28 mph (25 mph in New York City), and the bike's class: 1, 2, or 3, should be clearly labeled.
• Motor power is 750 watts or less. Anything more powerful is likely an illegal e-moto or a limited-use moped requiring DMV registration.
• The bike has operable pedals. A throttle-only vehicle without working pedals isn't legally an e-bike and risks impoundment.

"In Europe, e-bikes are already part of everyday life. In the U.S., the opportunity to bring that experience to many more commuters and families is just beginning, and we are here to help build it. Growth depends on trust. Laws like California's SB 1167 help buyers know what they are getting, and Safe Start gives every rider the knowledge to buy and ride with confidence. That is the market we want to build in the U.S.: one where quality, accessibility, and trust go together." 
Stéphane Ficaja, Co-founder & CEO at Upway

"After training more than 3,000 riders in person, we know confidence comes from practice. Safe Start gives riders a free place to begin, and hands-on training is the natural next step. Our goal is to help people turn knowledge into everyday riding habits." 
Megan Lamb, Founder of E-Bike Sense

Availability

Safe Start is free and available now at upway.co/pages/safety, hosted on Upway's learning platform.

About Upway

Upway is the leading international platform for professionally refurbished e-bikes. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Paris, Upway is now active in ten markets – France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Spain, Denmark and the United States – with eight UpCenters.

Upway's mission is to make electric mobility accessible to everyone. E-bikes are given a second life, while riders are offered a first choice. This ambition combines industrial-scale refurbishment, proprietary technology and a strong commitment to the circular economy.

Upway has already refurbished more than 200,000 e-bikes and offers the largest selection worldwide, with over 250 brands and more than 4,000 models. Every bike includes a one-year warranty and seamless customer service. By 2030, the company aims to refurbish and sell more than one million e-bikes while expanding its service ecosystem to include financing, insurance, maintenance and subscription models.

About E-Bike Sense

Founded in 2023, E-Bike Sense is the first dedicated in-person e-bike safety training provider in the United States. Based in Southern California's South Bay and serving Orange County and West LA, the company has trained over 3,000 riders through private sessions, school partnerships, law enforcement trainings, and community programs. In early 2027,

E-Bike Sense will open its first training hub in Hawthorne, California, a dedicated space for hands-on e-bike safety training and bike maintenance classes. E-Bike Sense partners with Beach Cities Health District/allcove on youth e-bike diversion programming and collaborates with the San Mateo County Office of Education's Safe Routes to School program.

Named alongside Hermosa Beach City School District for the 2025 Golden Bell Award, E-Bike Sense was founded by Megan Lamb, a former educator of 25 years, LA County Lifeguard, 15-year competitive triathlete, Licensed Cycling Instructor (LCI), and mom. E-Bike Sense is dedicated to making e-bike riding safer for youth and families through hands-on, expert-led education.

SOURCE Upway