(a) Bicycles, electric bicycles and micromobility device are only permitted upon roadways, all purpose trails, and other paths designated for the use of bicycles, and the provisions of this Traffic Code which are applicable to bicycles, electric bicycles and micromobility devices shall then apply whenever a bicycle, electric bicycles and micromobility device is operated.
(1) The operation of a class 1 electric bicycle, a class 2 electric bicycle and micromobility device is permitted on a path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, including mountain bike trails, or on a shared-use path including the all purpose trail (APT);
(2) No person shall operate a class 3 electric bicycle on a path set aside for the all purpose trails, other paths designated for the use of bicycles, or a shared use path.
(3) No person shall operate a class 1 electric bicycle, a class 2 electric bicycle, a class 3 electric bicycle, or a micromobility device on a path that is intended to be used primarily for hiking, equestrian use, or other similar uses, or any other single track or natural surface trail that has historically been reserved for nonmotorized use.
(4) Subsections (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section do not apply to a law enforcement officer, or other person sworn to enforce the criminal and traffic laws of the state, using an electric bicycle while in the performance of the officer's duties.
(b) (1) No person under sixteen years of age shall operate a class 3 electric bicycle; however, a person under sixteen years of age may ride as a passenger on a class 3 electric bicycle that is designed to accommodate passengers.
(2) No person shall operate or be a passenger on a class 3 electric bicycle unless the person is wearing a protective helmet that meets the standards established by the consumer product safety commission or the American society for testing and materials.
(c) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever operates an electric bicycle or micromobility device in a manner that is prohibited under division (a) of this section and whoever violates division (b) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(2) The offenses established under division (c)(1) of this section are strict liability offenses and strict liability is a culpable mental state for purposes of section 2901.20 of the Revised Code. The designation of these offenses as strict liability offenses shall not be construed to imply that any other offense, for which there is no specified degree of culpability, is not a strict liability offense.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a bicycle, electric bicycle or micromobility device operator who violates any section of this Traffic Code described in subsection (a) of this section that is applicable to bicycles, electric bicycle and micromobility devices may be issued a ticket, citation or summons by a law enforcement officer for the violation in the same manner as the operator of a motor vehicle would be cited for the same violation. A person who commits any such violation while operating a bicycle, electric bicycle or micromobility device shall not have any points assessed against the person's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, or probationary license under Ohio R.C. 4510.036.
(e) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, in the case of a violation of any section of this Traffic Code described in subsection (a) of this section by a bicycle, electric bicycle or micromobility device operator or by a motor vehicle operator when the trier of fact finds that the violation by the motor vehicle operator endangered the lives of bicycle riders at the time of the violation, the court, notwithstanding any provision of this Traffic Code to the contrary, may require the bicycle, electric bicycle or micromobility device operator or motor vehicle operator to take and successfully complete a bicycling, electric bicycle or micromobility device skills course approved by the court in addition to or in lieu of any penalty otherwise prescribed by the Traffic Code for that violation.
(f) Subsections (d) and (e) of this section do not apply to violations of Section 333.01 of this Traffic Code. (ORC 4511.52)
(g) The provisions of this Traffic Code shall apply to bicycles, electric bicycle and micromobility device except those which by their nature are not applicable.