Boise (670 KBOI News) – E-bikes — or bikes with electric motors to provide a boost to riders while they peddle them up hills and so on — are coming into their own in the Idaho legislature.

The House voted 69-0 to pass House Bill 76, which recognizes the three categories of e-bikes, and allows cities and counties to pass ordinances to regulate their use as they see fit.

Rexburg Representative Doug Ricks sponsored the bill…he says it’s important to distinguish between the three categories.

“Class 1 provides a boost if you pedal, up to 20 miles an hour,” said Ricks.  “Class 2 provides that you don’t actually have to pedal, it’ll give you a boost up to 20 miles an hour without having to pedal, and Class 3 does an assist, when you pedal, up to 28 miles an hour.”

Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are legal to operate on streets, sidewalks and most of the Greenbelt in Boise and Ada County.

House Bill 76 now goes to the Senate.