Rock Springs, Lander and Gillette: Wyoming's New E-Bike Rules, Town by Town
Illustration. Not a specific Wyoming street.
Wyoming law defines the three e-bike classes, says an e-bike isn't a motor vehicle, and leaves most of the rest to cities, towns and agencies. This fall, three towns got to work. Lander's ordinance is already in effect. Rock Springs passed its own on Nov. 3. Gillette is still writing one. And on Jan. 1, Wyoming State Parks opens designated non-motorized trails to Class 1 e-bikes. In Rock Springs you can ride an e-bike on the sidewalk. In Lander you can't. Here's what each town decided.
Jump to: Quick comparison | Rock Springs | Lander | Gillette | State parks | State law | Checklist | Local shops | FAQ
Status as of Nov. 5, 2026: Lander's Ordinance 2026-2 is in effect. Rock Springs' Ordinance 2026-11 passed on final reading Nov. 3; check with the city for its effective date. Gillette has no new ordinance yet. This is general information, not legal advice. Check the final ordinance text before relying on any detail.
Quick comparison
| Rock Springs | Lander | Gillette | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Passed Nov. 3, 2026 | In effect (passed Oct. 13) | Draft in progress |
| E-bikes on sidewalks | Yes, at a "prudent speed," yielding to pedestrians | No, on any sidewalk | Under discussion |
| Park lawns, courts, fields | Banned | Not in the published summary | Council leaning toward a ban |
| Helmets | Under 18 on a Class 3 | Under 16 on any e-bike or powered device | Under discussion |
| Age limit | No one under 16 on a Class 3 | None in the published summary | Under discussion |
| Max fine | $50 | $750 (lower schedule for kids under 16) | Current code: up to $750 |
Rock Springs: sidewalks stay open, Class 3 gets the rules
The Rock Springs City Council passed Ordinance 2026-11 unanimously on its third and final reading on Tuesday, Nov. 3. It adds e-bike and e-scooter rules to Chapter 72 of the city code. Councilman Eric Bingham revised much of it over the past few months.
Where you can ride. E-bikes and e-scooters are allowed on public streets, with the same rights and duties as any other driver under Wyoming law. They're also allowed on sidewalks and pedestrian paths, as long as riders keep to a "prudent speed" and yield to pedestrians before passing them. The ordinance says it doesn't designate any city street as a bike route.
Where you can't. Sports courts (basketball, tennis, pickleball), playing fields, playgrounds and landscaped park lawns are off-limits to e-bikes, scooters and motor vehicles. Paved sidewalks and pedestrian paths that cross through a park are still fine.
Class 3 rules. Class 3 e-bikes are the pedal-assist models that help up to 28 mph. Nobody under 16 can ride one in Rock Springs, and every rider and passenger under 18 on one has to wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet. Class 1 and Class 2 bikes, which stop assisting at 20 mph, carry no age or helmet rule.
Parents. A parent or guardian can't knowingly let a minor break the ordinance.
Fines. Up to $50 per offense. Citations can go to riders 12 and older, or to a parent or guardian. The Rocket Miner's Nov. 4 report describes a one-year warning period, where first-time violations ordinarily get a warning instead of a ticket, except for reckless or dangerous riding. The same paper reported on Oct. 21 that the warning period had been removed from the text and moved into police department policy. Either way, expect warnings first.
What got left out. Bingham's earlier amendments had a helmet rule and an under-16 rule for city streets. He pulled both before the Oct. 20 second reading after working with Police Chief Bill Erspamer. Mayor Max Mickelson backed the approach: "The only thing worse than a bad law is a law that is not enforceable."
Councilman Rob Zotti had reservations about 28 mph bikes on sidewalks but voted yes, calling the ordinance "a living document." Councilman David Thompson asked the police chief to report any enforcement problems. Expect changes.
Over 750 watts isn't an e-bike. Rock Springs uses the state definition: working pedals, a seat, and a motor under 750 watts. Anything with a 750-watt motor or bigger is a motor vehicle.
Lander: off the sidewalks, and helmets for kids
Lander's Ordinance 2026-2 passed on its third and final reading on Oct. 13, and the Lander Journal reports the final version passed unanimously and is now in effect. Public comment was largely supportive, from the Lander Cycling Club to a local pediatrician.
No e-bikes on sidewalks. The ordinance prohibits electric bicycles and powered devices on sidewalks. It also sets dismount zones along portions of Main Street, where bikes aren't allowed on the sidewalk. Mobility devices used by people with disabilities are exempt.
The pathway. Certain devices are allowed on the Lander Area Pathway System. Where you're riding near people walking, yield to them. Check the city's full ordinance for which classes are allowed on the pathway.
Helmets under 16. Operators under 16 on an e-bike or powered device have to wear a helmet.
Lights and conduct. The ordinance sets lighting requirements for riding at night and bans reckless operation. With sunset before 5 p.m. now, lights cover a lot of after-school riding.
Fines. Up to $750 per offense. For kids under 16, officers can use a lower schedule instead: fines start at $25 and double with each offense within a year, up to $400. Anyone ticketed can contest it before a judge.
The full text is posted on the City of Lander site, and copies are available at City Hall, 240 Lincoln Street.
Gillette: still drafting, and the problem is e-dirt bikes
Gillette hasn't passed anything yet. The City Council talked through possible changes on Oct. 20, and staff are drafting updated language for more review and public hearings. The city attorney said he planned to bring options to the council's Nov. 17 meeting, though that could change.
The police numbers explain the push. From June 1 to Oct. 20, officers recorded 68 contacts involving electric mobility devices: 12 proactive traffic stops, 16 warnings and 19 citations. Police Capt. Kelly Alger said "nearly all" of the citations involved electric dirt bikes, either on sidewalks or ridden on roads where off-road vehicles aren't allowed.
An electric dirt bike over 750 watts isn't an e-bike. On the road it needs a valid license, insurance and registration, and it's prohibited on city sidewalks and pedestrian pathways.
Where the council seemed to agree:
- E-bikes on paved park pathways and parking lots, but not on irrigated grass, landscaped areas or sports fields
- Narrowing the commercial-district sidewalk restriction to downtown streets around Gillette Avenue, instead of the whole C2 district
- Possibly a tiered penalty system, including waiving a first-offense fine if a rider or parent shows they bought an approved helmet
Youth helmets, sidewalk riding in general and parent responsibility were still open. A city survey drew 478 responses, and among 442 written comments the top requests were licenses or permits for electric dirt bikes (130) and helmet requirements (119).
Wyoming State Parks: Class 1 on some trails starting Jan. 1
Wyoming State Parks also finished its first comprehensive rules update in decades. Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Class 1 e-bikes without a throttle can ride on designated non-motorized trails, according to Wyoming Public Media. The state parks rules filing says Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes are prohibited on all non-motorized trails. Look for the designation at each park.
What Wyoming state law already says
Under W.S. 31-5-707, an e-bike isn't a motor vehicle, so no driver's license, registration or insurance is needed. E-bikes sold since Jan. 1, 2020 must carry a label showing class, top assisted speed and motor wattage. Local authorities and state agencies can regulate e-bikes on trails they manage.
That statute doesn't set an e-bike age limit or a helmet rule, so the age and helmet rules in Rock Springs and Lander are local. For the full picture, see our Wyoming e-bike laws guide and our state-by-state e-bike law guide.
Not sure of your bike's class? Our motor label guide shows where to look. For how other towns handle fast bikes on paths, see cities choosing 15 mph trail limits over Class 3 bans.
Checklist for Wyoming riders and parents
- Find the class label on every e-bike in the house. If the motor is 750 watts or more, or it has no working pedals, it's not an e-bike under Wyoming law.
- In Lander, stay off sidewalks on any e-bike or e-scooter, and walk through the Main Street dismount zones.
- In Rock Springs, slow down on sidewalks and yield before passing pedestrians. Keep off courts, fields, playgrounds and park lawns.
- Check ages on Class 3 bikes. No one under 16 in Rock Springs.
- Get helmets: under 16 on any e-bike in Lander, under 18 on a Class 3 in Rock Springs. Gillette may add its own.
- Add lights. Lander requires them at night.
- Watch Gillette's council agenda if you ride there.
Local shops for a class check, helmet or lights
Lander e-bike shops: The Bike Mill and Gannett Peak Sports (all Lander shops, Fremont County e-bike shops). Rock Springs e-bike repair: The Bike and Trike Bicycle (Rock Springs, Sweetwater County shops). Gillette: The Bicycle Shop (Gillette e-bike shops, Campbell County). For places to ride, see the Fremont County and Sweetwater County guides or the full Wyoming directory.
FAQ
Can you ride an e-bike on the sidewalk in Rock Springs?
Yes, at a prudent speed, yielding to pedestrians before passing. E-bikes are banned on sports courts, playing fields, playgrounds and landscaped park lawns.
Can you ride an e-bike on the sidewalk in Lander?
No. Ordinance 2026-2 prohibits electric bicycles and powered devices on sidewalks, and sets dismount zones along portions of Main Street.
Does Wyoming have an e-bike helmet law?
Wyoming's e-bike statute has no helmet rule, but some towns set their own. Lander requires helmets for riders under 16 on e-bikes and powered devices. Rock Springs requires them for riders and passengers under 18 on Class 3 e-bikes.
How much is an e-bike ticket in Wyoming?
It depends on the town. Rock Springs caps fines at $50. Lander allows up to $750, with a lower schedule for kids under 16 that starts at $25 and tops out at $400.
Can you ride an e-bike in Wyoming state parks?
Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Class 1 e-bikes without a throttle can use designated non-motorized trails in Wyoming state parks. Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes stay off those trails.
Sources: Rocket Miner (Oct. 21 and Nov. 4, 2026), SweetwaterNOW (Nov. 4, 2026) and Wyo4News (Nov. 3, 2026) on Rock Springs; City of Lander Ordinance 2026-2 public notice (published Oct. 24, 2026) and the Lander Journal (Nov. 5, 2026); County 17 (Oct. 22, 2026) and the Gillette News Record (Oct. 24, 2026) on Gillette; Wyoming Public Media (Nov. 2, 2026) and the State Parks rule filing on state parks; W.S. 31-5-707.
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