The Port Authority has reversed a long-standing rule that prohibited riders from bringing electric bicycles (or "e-bikes") inside any Port Authority vehicles (past regulations cited their potentially dangerous batteries as the reason).

As of Wednesday, September 1, battery-powered bicycles will now be permitted inside light rail vehicles when riders are traveling south of First Avenue Station.

They will also be permitted inside the Monongahela Incline and light rail vehicles when traveling within the Central Business District on a six-month pilot. (Should there be no incidents during that time, the allowance will be made permanent. "The trial period will help alleviate any concerns about their safety," said Burt Jennings, Port Authority's Chief Safety Officer.)

Note: E-bikes are already permitted on the front-mounted bike rack on buses, so that policy is unchanged. The new battery-powered scooters (like those now offered by Spin, or a privately-owned device) are not permitted inside any Port Authority vehicle or on the front-mounted bike racks.

The same basic rules that apply to traditional bicycles will also apply to these battery-powered electric bicycles – meaning that:

• On buses, they are only permitted on the bike racks; on light rail vehicles
• On light rail vehicles, only two bicycles per car are permitted at any time
• On the Monongahela Incline, bicycles can only be transported in the upper compartment
• And regardless of the vehicle type, mobility devices used by individuals with disabilities are always given priority

"We're really glad to have heard from so many people, particularly BikePgh, after we recently reminded riders of our e-bike policy," said Port Authority CEO Katharine Kelleman. "The original policy was crafted with our customers' safety in mind. Since then, the construction, build quality, and safety of e-bikes have come. along way, and there have been very few – if any – incidents involving e-bikes inside public transit vehicles."

"E-bikes help extend our network into communities where our vehicles don't go and further our mission of connecting people to life," Kelleman said.

The Port Authority's complete set of rules for electric and traditional bicycles alike can be found on their website here.

Source: Port Authority of Allegheny County