Best eBike Shops in Grand Forks, ND -- the Greenway, UND & the Red River
Local eBike guide · Updated July 26, 2026 · Editorial team review
Grand Forks has something few cities its size can match: a continuous park corridor along both banks of the Red River, with paved paths running its whole length. It exists because of the 1997 flood, and it is now the best riverside riding in North Dakota. The Ski & Bike Shop is the established local workshop at 4.6 across 118 reviews.
🗺️ Things to do on an eBike in Grand Forks County →
The Ski & Bike Shop at 4.6 across 118 reviews is the full-service workshop in town. Most other listings here are Grand Rides bikeshare stations, not shops.
- The Ski & Bike Shop 4.6★ · 118 reviews · full service
- RickShaw Enterprise Buck2Hondo 5.0★ · 5 reviews
- Grand Rides bikeshare station
- Fargo shops deepest market in the state
- Main shop: The Ski & Bike Shop -- 4.6 across 118 reviews.
- Best riding: the Greenway, both banks of the Red River.
- Two states: cross a bridge into East Grand Forks, Minnesota.
- Campus loop: UND on the west side, with its own path rules.
- Why the corridor exists: the catastrophic 1997 flood and buyouts.
- Heads up: most "Grand Rides" listings are bikeshare stations.
Local shops and service
Eight verified Grand Forks listings, but read them carefully: The Ski & Bike Shop is the full-service workshop, and most of the remaining entries are Grand Rides bikeshare stations rather than businesses.
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Things to do on an eBike in Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks sits where the Red Lake River joins the Red River of the North -- the forks that give the city its name -- with East Grand Forks, Minnesota directly across the water. It is a university city, home to the University of North Dakota, and it is dead flat in every direction.
What makes it worth riding is a corridor of parkland that exists for a reason no visitor guesses.
The Greenway: two states, both banks, and paved path the whole way.
The Greenway and the 1997 flood
In April 1997 the Red River overwhelmed Grand Forks. The city was almost entirely evacuated, and while the streets were under water a fire broke out and burned part of downtown -- buildings burning above a flooded street is the image that went around the world.
In the rebuild, riverside property was bought out and the land was turned over to levees and parkland. The result is the Greenway: a continuous corridor of open space along both banks through Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, with paved multi-use paths running its length and connecting bridges between the two states.
It is, bluntly, the best riverside path system in North Dakota -- and it is a flood-control project that happens to be excellent riding. A commuter-style eBike is all it takes.
Across to East Grand Forks
East Grand Forks, Minnesota is a bridge away, and the Greenway continues on that bank with its own paths. Riding out on one side and back on the other is the standard local loop -- and it crosses a state line twice without leaving a park.
Out on the North Dakota bank, back on the Minnesota one.
The UND campus
On the west side of the city, the University of North Dakota campus has paved walkways, a coulee running through it, and routes that connect back toward the Greenway. It is the other natural loop in town.
UND: campus paths on the west side, connecting back to the river.
The university sets its own rules for riding on campus paths, which is worth knowing before assuming the whole place is open riding.
Downtown and the rebuilt centre
Downtown Grand Forks was substantially rebuilt after 1997, and the blocks near the river are the most pleasant part of the city to ride through. The Greenway runs right alongside, so the downtown loop and the river ride are the same outing.
Out into Grand Forks County
Beyond the city the valley is farmland -- section-line roads, shelterbelts, and long straight sightlines. Mekinock, west of the city, carries its own listing. This is genuinely good riding when the wind cooperates and a serious slog when it does not. Shops: Mekinock eBike listings.
Grand Forks County outside the city: flat, straight, and entirely at the mercy of the wind.
Why an electric bike here
Same answer as the rest of the Red River valley: not hills -- wind. There is no climbing in Grand Forks worth the name. What there is instead is open valley with nothing to slow the air down, and a city spread wide enough that useful trips run longer than they look. Assist deals with both, and it makes the two-state Greenway loop an easy evening rather than an outing you have to plan around.
Best eBike routes from Grand Forks (rider plans)
Greenway out and back (6-12 miles): Paved path along the Red from any signed access. The default.
Two-state Greenway loop (8-16 miles): Up the North Dakota bank, across a bridge, back down the Minnesota bank. The signature ride.
Campus and river (10-18 miles): UND on the west side, then east to the Greenway and a river leg. Check campus path rules.
Downtown and the forks (5-10 miles): The rebuilt centre and the junction of the two rivers.
Full Greenway end to end (18-26 miles): The whole corridor, both banks, several bridges.
County section-line ride (25-40 miles): West into the farmland toward Mekinock. Riders stacking long days sometimes keep a portable power station for eBike day trips at lodging for an overnight top-up.
How to plan a Grand Forks riding day
- Check the wind, not the elevation. There is no elevation.
- Ride out into the headwind, home with it behind you.
- Check for Greenway closures in spring. It is a flood corridor first and a park second.
- Confirm UND campus path rules before planning a route through the university.
- Remember the far bank is Minnesota, with its own law and park rules.
- Plan repairs around The Ski & Bike Shop. The Grand Rides entries are bikeshare stations.
Who this Grand Forks eBike trip is for
Path riders: a continuous riverside corridor across two states.
Students and campus riders: UND connects straight to the Greenway.
Anyone who dislikes climbing: there is none.
People interested in how cities recover: the whole corridor is a 1997 story.
North Dakota eBike laws snapshot (Grand Forks riding)
North Dakota treats electric bicycles broadly like bicycles for ordinary use, without a driver's license or registration requirement for a standard low-speed electric bike.
Grand Forks adds two wrinkles. The Greenway spans a state line -- ride across a bridge and you are under Minnesota law and East Grand Forks park rules, which need not match the North Dakota bank. And the University of North Dakota sets its own rules for campus paths. The corridor is also flood-protection infrastructure, so sections close during high water. For the county picture, see things to do on an eBike in Grand Forks County and eBike shops in North Dakota.
eBike repair and service in Grand Forks
The Ski & Bike Shop at 4.6 across 118 reviews is the established full-service bike shop in the city and the one to plan a repair around. RickShaw Enterprise Buck2Hondo is 5.0 across 5 reviews.
The remaining six listings are all Grand Rides -- the local bikeshare system's docking stations, not workshops. Useful for a short hop across town, useless for a broken motor. For deeper retail, Fargo is the strongest market in the state and Bismarck has two solid shops.
Nearby eBike shops (Grand Forks County and North Dakota)
Frequently asked questions about eBiking in Grand Forks
Where can I buy an eBike in Grand Forks, ND?
The Ski & Bike Shop is the established full-service bike shop in Grand Forks at 4.6 across 118 reviews, and RickShaw Enterprise Buck2Hondo is 5.0 across 5. The other listings under the Grand Rides name are bikeshare stations rather than shops, so plan repairs around The Ski & Bike Shop.
What is the Greenway in Grand Forks?
The Greenway is the large park corridor along both banks of the Red River through Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, with paved multi-use paths running its length. It was created after the catastrophic 1997 flood, when riverside property was bought out and the land was given over to flood protection and recreation.
Why is there so much open land along the river in Grand Forks?
Because of the 1997 Red River flood, which overwhelmed the city and forced a mass evacuation, followed by a fire that burned part of downtown while the streets were under water. In the rebuild, riverside properties were bought out and the corridor became levee and parkland -- which is why the Greenway exists at all.
Can you bike to East Grand Forks, Minnesota?
Yes, easily. East Grand Forks sits directly across the Red River, joined by bridges within the Greenway corridor, and the Minnesota side carries its own paved path network. It is one of the simplest two-state loops you can ride.
Can you bike around the UND campus?
The University of North Dakota campus sits on the west side of Grand Forks with paved walkways and a coulee running through it. Campus routes connect toward the Greenway, making a natural loop, though the university sets its own rules for riding on campus paths.
Is Grand Forks flat for cycling?
Very. Grand Forks lies in the Red River valley on the bed of glacial Lake Agassiz, so there is effectively no climbing anywhere in the city. The limiting factor is wind across open valley, plus a short riding season.
Do you need a license to ride an eBike in North Dakota?
North Dakota treats electric bicycles broadly like bicycles for ordinary use, with no driver's license or registration required. The Greenway is managed jointly across two states, so rules can differ between the North Dakota and Minnesota banks, and the university sets its own campus rules.
What is the best eBike ride in Grand Forks?
The Greenway. Ride the paved path north or south along the Red, cross a bridge into East Grand Forks, and return on the Minnesota bank. Add a loop through the UND campus and downtown for ten to eighteen flat miles.