Riders on the Rock Creek Trail, Westside Trail, and other popular paths through Bethany and Cedar Mill now have a clearer picture of which electric bikes are welcome and which are not.

Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District published a new resource on Monday, July 6, explaining Oregon's e-bike classifications and directing residents to a Beaverton Police Department guide and infographic.

The effort is part of a broader summer safety education campaign that THPRD is running jointly with law enforcement and the Beaverton School District. Education outreach will continue through the summer and be followed by enforcement actions, though the district has not announced a specific start date for ticketing.

The key rule for local trail users: only Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on THPRD's regional trails, including the Westside, Waterhouse, Rock Creek, and Fanno Creek trails. Class 1 means pedal-assist only, with a top speed of 20 mph and no throttle. E-bikes are not permitted on any other THPRD properties, and electric motorcycles or mopeds (often called "e-motos") are banned from all district land.

What the three classes mean

Oregon uses a three-tier e-bike classification system:

• Class 1: Pedal-assist only, motor cuts out at 20 mph.
• Class 2: Throttle plus pedal-assist, capped at 20 mph.
• Class 3: Pedal-assist only, motor cuts out at 28 mph.

No driver's license, registration, or insurance is required for any of the three classes. Riders under 16 must wear an approved helmet. The current minimum riding age for all classes is 16; beginning Friday, January 1, 2027, Oregon HB 4007 will lower the Class 1 minimum to 14.

Modifications and high-powered bikes

An e-bike modified beyond its class specs — say, a motor exceeding 750 watts or a top speed above 28 mph — may be reclassified as a motor vehicle under Oregon law. That changes where it can legally ride. High-powered electric bikes such as Sur-Rons and Talarias already fall into this category and are banned from bike paths, greenways, and shared-use trails statewide.

How to learn more

THPRD said it is sharing the guide "to help our community make informed choices and enjoy our parks, trails, and neighborhoods safely." The Beaverton Police Department's full guide and infographic are available at beavertonoregon.gov/2218/E-Bike-Safety.

Riders should also check posted signs before heading out, as individual parks and local jurisdictions can set their own access restrictions beyond the statewide rules.

A Bethany Lake berm and bank stabilization project with Clean Water Services is expected to begin construction in July 2026, according to THPRD. Riders and walkers should expect intermittent closures of 5 to 10 minutes on Rock Creek Trail west of the lake, and a closure of up to one week on the connector trail to NW Columbia Avenue.