Things To Do on an eBike in Arlington County, VA
Arlington County has several paved corridors that connect, so you can string together a ride across the county. The county manages the Custis, Four Mile Run and Bluemont Junction trails. NOVA Parks manages the W&OD Trail. The National Park Service manages the Mount Vernon Trail. Each manager can post its own rules.
County code allows eBikes up to 20 mph on streets and multi-use trails, but not on natural trails. Passing people on foot means ringing a bell and slowing to 6 mph or lower. The guide below covers five routes, with length, surface, access points and the eBike rule for each.
Where to ride in Arlington County
Most routes meet near Rosslyn, Ballston, Bon Air and Falls Church. The Custis Trail starts at the Mount Vernon Trail in Rosslyn and ends at the W&OD Trail near Falls Church. Four Mile Run meets Bluemont Junction and the W&OD along the way. Bon Air, Bluemont, Glencarlyn, Barcroft and Jennie Dean Park all offer trail parking. The county's trails map PDF shows the connections.
The Mount Vernon Trail is the longest Arlington-area route at 18 miles, but it has the lowest posted bike speed limit, 15 mph. The W&OD Trail is 45 miles, paved and managed by NOVA Parks. Four Mile Run is 9.72 miles and easy to moderate. Custis is 5.12 miles and hilly. Bluemont Junction is 1.3 miles and easy. County trails fall under the 20 mph county limit.
eBike shop hubs
Every Arlington County listing sits under one city page. Browse eBike shops in Arlington for bicycle shops, an electric bicycle store, repair and bike sharing stations.
Rental and tour contacts
Big Wheel Bikes is the rental business listed for the county. Check its card for current hours, rates and eBike availability, since those details are not published in the listing.
Big Wheel Bikes🚲 Rentals
Named eBike routes and access checks
1. Custis Trail, hilly link from Rosslyn to Falls Church
The Custis Trail is the county's main east-west connector. It is a hilly paved trail of 5.12 miles that starts at the Mount Vernon Trail in Rosslyn and ends at the W&OD Trail near Falls Church. Arlington County manages it and rates it moderate. The climbs are the reason to bring pedal assist. Riders can reach it by Metro, or park at Bon Air or Westover Park. At each end it meets a larger corridor, so you can continue onto the W&OD Trail or the Mount Vernon Trail. No trail-specific eBike rule is published. The state default applies, and county micro-mobility rules allow eBikes on paved trails up to 20 mph. Slow to 6 mph or lower when passing people walking.
Distance: 5.12 miles, per Arlington County Parks and Recreation; start: Rosslyn at the Mount Vernon Trail, by Metro, or parking at Bon Air or Westover Park; surface: Paved and hilly, per Arlington County.
eBike access: Custis Trail: no trail-specific eBike rule is published. State law applies, and county rules allow eBikes on paved trails up to 20 mph. Etiquette and planning: Ring your bell and slow to 6 mph or lower when passing people walking. Expect hills, and keep right on climbs and descents. Managing source: Arlington County Parks and Recreation, Off-street trails.
2. Four Mile Run Trail, stream-side route to the airport area
The Four Mile Run Trail follows the Four Mile Run stream for 9.72 miles. It starts in Falls Church and ends at the Mount Vernon Trail near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Arlington County manages it and rates it easy to moderate. It connects to the Bluemont Junction, W&OD and Lucky Run Trails, which makes it useful for building longer rides. Parking is available at Bon Air, Bluemont, Glencarlyn, Barcroft and Jennie Dean Park. The W&OD Trail runs parallel to it in Arlington, so riders can pick either corridor. No trail-specific eBike rule is published. State law applies, and the county allows eBikes up to 20 mph on paved trails.
Distance: 9.72 miles, per Arlington County Parks and Recreation; start: Parking at Bon Air, Bluemont, Glencarlyn, Barcroft or Jennie Dean Park; surface: Paved bike trail, per Arlington County.
eBike access: Four Mile Run Trail: no trail-specific eBike rule is published. State law applies, and county rules allow eBikes on paved trails up to 20 mph. Etiquette and planning: Slow to 6 mph or lower and ring your bell when passing people walking. Check junctions with the W&OD and Bluemont Junction trails. Managing source: Arlington County Parks and Recreation, Off-street trails.
3. Bluemont Junction Trail, short rail-trail from Ballston
Bluemont Junction is the short one. It is a 1.3-mile rail-trail on a former Washington & Old Dominion Railroad branch, running through Bluemont Junction Park. It connects Ballston with the W&OD and Four Mile Run Trails, so it works as a link rather than a destination. Arlington County manages it and rates it easy. Access it from Bluemont Park, where parking is available, at 747 N. Emerson St. The surface is not stated beyond rail-trail in the county's paved multi-use trail system. No trail-specific eBike rule is published. State law applies, and county rules allow eBikes on paved trails up to 20 mph.
Distance: 1.3 miles, per Arlington County Parks and Recreation; start: Bluemont Park, 747 N. Emerson St., where parking is available; surface: Rail-trail in the county's paved multi-use system; check the county page for current surface.
eBike access: Bluemont Junction Trail: no trail-specific eBike rule is published. State law applies, and county rules allow eBikes on paved trails up to 20 mph. Etiquette and planning: Keep speeds low on this short link and ring your bell before passing. Watch for riders merging from the W&OD and Four Mile Run trails. Managing source: Arlington County Parks and Recreation, Off-street trails.
4. W&OD Trail: 45 miles on an old rail bed
The W&OD Trail follows the former Washington & Old Dominion Railroad roadbed between Shirlington and Purcellville. NOVA Parks manages it and calls it the skinniest park in Virginia, a corridor 100 feet wide. It is paved and open to walking, running, bicycling and skating. In Arlington it intersects the Custis and Bluemont Junction Trails and runs parallel to Four Mile Run. Parking is at Madison Manor, Benjamin Banneker, Bon Air, Bluemont, Glencarlyn, Barcroft and Jennie Dean Park. NOVA Parks does not list an eBike rule, so the state default applies. eBikeQuest reports eBikes are permitted with a 20 mph powered-speed cap, so confirm on posted signs.
Distance: 45 miles, per NOVA Parks; start: Several access points, including Madison Manor, Benjamin Banneker, Bon Air, Bluemont, Glencarlyn, Barcroft and Jennie Dean Park; surface: Paved, per NOVA Parks.
eBike access: NOVA Parks publishes no eBike rule on its page, and state law applies. A secondary source reports eBikes are allowed with a 20 mph powered-speed cap. Etiquette and planning: The corridor is narrow and shared with walkers, runners and skaters. Keep right, ring a bell and slow down when passing. Managing source: NOVA Parks, Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park.
5. Mount Vernon Trail: 18 federal miles along the Potomac
The Mount Vernon Trail is a paved multi-use trail from George Washington's Mount Vernon to Theodore Roosevelt Island. The National Park Service owns it, not the county. It links Fairfax County, Alexandria, Arlington and the Potomac River bridge crossings into Washington, D.C. NPS built it in the 1970s and 1980s, and it hosts over one million pedestrians and bicyclists a year. The trailhead is between Rosslyn and Mount Vernon. The sources conflict on eBikes. An NPS determination allows eBikes where bicycles are allowed, with a 15 mph bike speed limit. The NPS trail page says motorized vehicles are not allowed. Follow posted signs and ask the park.
Distance: 18 miles, per the National Park Service; start: Trailhead between Rosslyn and Mount Vernon; the Custis Trail meets it in Rosslyn; surface: Paved multi-use trail, per the National Park Service.
eBike access: NPS allows eBikes where bicycles are allowed, but bans throttle-only riding except where motor vehicles are allowed. Its trail page separately says motorized vehicles are not allowed, so follow signs. Etiquette and planning: Bike speed limit is 15 mph. Stay right and give an audible warning when passing. Expect heavy use, and ride more slowly in crowds. Managing source: National Park Service, Mount Vernon Trail.
Planning a Arlington County ride
Charging locations along these trails are not published, so charge before you leave and plan your range. Metro reaches the Custis Trail trailhead. Parking is listed at Bon Air, Bluemont, Glencarlyn, Barcroft, Jennie Dean Park, Westover Park, Madison Manor and Benjamin Banneker. The Mount Vernon Trail sees over one million pedestrians and bicyclists a year, so go slower when it is busy.
Closures and construction notices are not published in the route information, so check each manager before a long ride. The county, NOVA Parks and the National Park Service each post their own updates. Ring a bell and slow to 6 mph or lower when passing people walking on county paths. On federal land, the limit is 15 mph.
Half-day and full-day eBike plans
Half day: Ride the Custis Trail from Rosslyn toward the W&OD Trail, then return the same way. It is 5.12 miles each direction with hills, so pedal assist helps. Park at Bon Air or Westover Park, or take Metro to Rosslyn. Keep speeds low around people walking.
Full day: Start on the Four Mile Run Trail at Bon Air, ride its 9.72 miles toward the Mount Vernon Trail near Reagan National Airport, then turn north on the NPS trail. Return on the Custis and W&OD trails. Keep to the 15 mph limit on federal land.
With kids: Try the 1.3-mile Bluemont Junction Trail, rated easy, from Bluemont Park, and parking is available there. It connects to the W&OD and Four Mile Run Trails if the group wants more. Any Class 3 eBike requires a helmet, and under-14 riders need adult supervision on it.
What not to ride in Arlington County
Natural-surface trails: Arlington County allows eBikes on streets, sidewalks and paved trails, but not natural trails. County hiking trails are not eBike routes. If a surface looks unpaved or the sign says no bicycles, turn around.
Federal sites that prohibit bicycling: The National Park Service prohibits bicycling, including eBikes, in Great Falls Park, Theodore Roosevelt Island, Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, the Potomac Heritage Trail and the Haul Road. Jones Point Park trails are also closed, excluding the Mount Vernon Trail.
Parkway roadways: Bicycling, including eBikes, is prohibited on the George Washington Memorial Parkway roadway from Mount Vernon Circle to Interstate 495. The Spout Run Parkway and Clara Barton Parkway roadways are also closed. Use the adjacent paved trail instead where one is open.
Sidewalks beside protected bike lanes: When a protected bike lane runs the same direction on the same street, county rules require riders to use it instead of the sidewalk. Where sidewalks are allowed, stay below 6 mph and keep to walking speed near pedestrians.
When to ride Arlington County
Paved trails are open to use year round, but conditions change with the season. Summer in the Washington area is typically hot and humid, so ride early or late and bring water. Spring and fall weekends tend to bring the biggest crowds, especially on the Mount Vernon Trail, which sees over one million users a year. Winter ice can affect paved trails. Trail hours are not published in the route information, so check each manager before riding after dark.
Virginia eBike laws and route permission
Virginia defines an "electric power-assisted bicycle" in Va. Code 46.2-100. The law sets three classes. Class 1 is pedal assist only, and the motor stops helping at 20 mph. Class 2 has a motor that may move the bike without pedaling, and it also stops helping at 20 mph. Class 3 is pedal assist only and stops helping at 28 mph. The motor must be 750 watts or less, and the bike must have operable pedals. Know your class before you ride, because the rules differ by class.
Under Va. Code 46.2-904.1 and 46.2-908.1, compliant eBikes have the rights and duties of bicycles. They are generally allowed where bicycles are, including roads, shoulders, bike lanes and shared-use paths. A locality or state agency may restrict Class 1 or Class 2 eBikes on a path after notice and hearing. It may prohibit Class 3 eBikes on a particular path. A person under 14 may operate a Class 3 only under the immediate supervision of someone at least 18. Sidewalk riding is set locally, so check city or county rules.
Class 3 operators and passengers must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet that meets CPSC or ASTM standards. A Class 3 eBike must also have a speedometer. Compliant eBikes need no driver's license, registration, title, insurance or license plate. Each eBike should carry a manufacturer label showing its class. For a plain-language summary, read our guide to Virginia eBike laws.
Trail access depends on who manages the trail. On paved shared-use paths, a locality or state agency can restrict Class 1 or Class 2 eBikes, but only after notice and hearing. The same bodies may prohibit Class 3 eBikes on a particular path. Natural-surface trails can be restricted by the manager. A route that works for one eBike may be closed to another, so confirm with the manager before you go.
Your class decides where you can go, so keep the manufacturer class label legible on the bike. If you ride a Class 3, make sure the speedometer works and that everyone aboard, passengers included, has a helmet. A rider under 14 needs an adult of at least 18 supervising closely on a Class 3. The state sources we use do not list specific speed limits for trails, so follow whatever limits the trail manager sets.
Arlington County allows eBikes on streets, sidewalks and paved trails but not natural trails. County code allows eBikes up to 20 mph on streets and multi-use trails. Riders must ring a bell and slow to 6 mph or lower when passing people walking, and on sidewalks, riders must stay below 6 mph. The County Board adopted Micro-Mobility Device regulations on Nov. 16, 2019. They allow use on sidewalks with limits, trails and bike lanes unless signed otherwise.
Managers differ, and the county manages the Custis, Four Mile Run and Bluemont Junction trails. NOVA Parks manages the W&OD Trail and publishes no eBike rule on its page, though a 20 mph powered-speed cap is also reported. The Mount Vernon Trail is federal, and the information conflicts. An NPS determination allows eBikes where bicycles are allowed. The NPS trail page says motorized vehicles are not allowed, so follow the signs.
The National Park Service approved its George Washington Memorial Parkway eBike determination on September 26, 2019. It says the parkway will include eBike language in future annual updates of the Superintendent's Compendium and will keep evaluating eBike use. No other pending eBike changes with dates are published. Federal rules include a 15 mph bike limit and no throttle-only riding except where motor vehicles are allowed.
Frequently asked questions
Which Arlington trail is best for a first eBike ride?
The Bluemont Junction Trail is rated easy and is only 1.3 miles. Park at Bluemont Park, 747 N. Emerson St. The Four Mile Run Trail is rated easy to moderate if you want more distance. The Custis Trail is hilly and rated moderate.
Who manages the W&OD Trail?
NOVA Parks manages the W&OD Trail. It is 45 miles long, paved and runs between Shirlington and Purcellville. In Arlington it crosses the Custis and Bluemont Junction Trails and runs parallel to Four Mile Run. Check the NOVA Parks page for posted rules.
Are throttle eBikes allowed on the Mount Vernon Trail?
Under the NPS determination, using the motor without pedaling is prohibited except where motor vehicles are allowed. The Mount Vernon Trail is not one of those places. A separate NPS page says motorized vehicles are not allowed at all, so confirm with the park.
Where do I park for the Custis Trail?
Take Metro to the trailhead, or park at Bon Air or Westover Park. The trail runs 5.12 miles from the Mount Vernon Trail in Rosslyn to the W&OD Trail near Falls Church. Other fees and hours are not published, so read posted signs.
How fast can I go on the Mount Vernon Trail?
The bike speed limit is 15 mph under the NPS determination. Cyclists must stay right and give an audible warning when passing. Your eBike may assist up to 20 mph or 28 mph, but the trail limit still applies.
Can I ride the Lucky Run Trail?
The county names Lucky Run as a trail connected to the Four Mile Run Trail. Its managing agency, length, surface and trailhead are not published in the route information, and no eBike rule is listed. Check the county trails map PDF and posted signs.
Do Class 3 eBikes have extra rules in Arlington?
Yes, Virginia requires a helmet for Class 3 operators and passengers and a speedometer on the bike. A rider under 14 needs adult supervision. Local managers may also prohibit Class 3 on a particular path, so look for posted signs.
What are the passing rules on Arlington paths?
Ring your bell and slow to 6 mph or lower when passing people walking. On sidewalks, stay below 6 mph and keep to walking speed near pedestrians. Use a protected bike lane instead of the sidewalk when one runs the same direction on the same street.
All eBike shops in Arlington County
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