Pedals
Fully operable pedals
The bicycle must have fully operable pedals.
PARENT READINESS CHECK
Pilot Complete: 30 Parent Responses Received
Thank you to the parents and caregivers who helped test the Know Your Ride Parent Readiness Check. Findings from this pilot are now being used to refine the assessment before its broader public launch.
Clear Rules. Safer Rides.
A Safer Ride Starts Before the Wheels Move
Bike type
Know what it is
Speed
Check what changes
Route and rules
Verify the context
Why this matters before a ride
A bike may look simple, and many riders know how to ride. But fewer understand how speed, bike type, road conditions, and local rules can change the risks.
Know Your Ride helps students, families, and schools make informed decisions by understanding bike types, speeds, routes, rules, and rider responsibilities, so independence comes with awareness, not assumptions.
Make informed decisions. Build safer habits. Ride with confidence.
Educational guidance only. Always verify official state, city, school, park, and trail sources.
Our Mission
Know Your Ride is a youth-led community safety initiative helping families, students, schools, and communities understand bikes, e-bikes, and e-motos before a purchase, before a ride, and before confusion turns into risk.
Where it Began
More riders. More questions. A need for clarity.
As e-bikes became more common in our neighborhoods, schools, and communities, so did the conversations surrounding them. Families, riders, educators, and community members were asking important questions about classifications, rules, routes, and responsibilities.
As a youth-led initiative, Know Your Ride was created to help make those conversations easier to navigate by providing clear, practical information that helps people better understand the bikes they ride and the places they ride them.
The idea behind Know Your Ride did not begin with having all the answers. It began with listening to the questions, concerns, and conversations happening throughout the community and recognizing a shared need for clearer understanding.
“Prevention should not begin only after a crash, complaint, or enforcement concern. It should start before the purchase, before the ride, and before the wheels move. That is where informed choices, rider readiness, and safer decisions begin.”
— Divisha Arora
THE KNOW YOUR RIDE FRAMEWORK
Built to remember. Designed to share.
P-7-28™
750 W
Motor rated at 750 watts or less
The motor must be rated at no more than 750 watts.
28 MPH
Motor assistance up to 28 mph
Motor assistance must stop at or below 28 mph.
P-7-28™ is a Know Your Ride educational framework of Care Forward Foundation. © 2026 Care Forward Foundation.
Limited noncommercial educational sharing is permitted under the Know Your Ride Terms of Use.
THE KNOW YOUR RIDE CLASS CODE FRAMEWORK
Three Classes. One Clear Code.
P20-T20-P28™
P20= pedal-assist to 20 mphT20= throttle to 20 mphP28= pedal-assist to 28 mph
CLASS 1
Pedal Assist Up to 20 MPH
COMMON RIDE ACCESS
CHECK LOCAL RULES
- Roads & neighborhood streets
- Bike lanes & protected lanes
- Shared-use paths, often allowed
Class 1 e-bikes are often treated similarly to traditional bicycles, but local rules can vary.
CLASS 2
Throttle Up to 20 MPH
COMMON RIDE ACCESS
CHECK LOCAL RULES
- Roads & neighborhood streets
- Bike lanes & protected lanes
- Shared-use paths, rules vary
Throttle access can be more limited on some paths and trails. Always check local rules.
CLASS 3
Pedal Assist Up to 28 MPH
COMMON RIDE ACCESS
CHECK LOCAL RULES
- Roads & neighborhood streets
- Bike lanes next to roads
- Shared-use paths & many trails, often restricted unless locally allowed
16+ may apply · Often road-focused · A speedometer may be required
Check state and local law.
P20-T20-P28™ is a Know Your Ride educational framework of Care Forward Foundation. © 2026 Care Forward Foundation.
Limited noncommercial educational sharing is permitted under the Know Your Ride Terms of Use.
P-7-28™ and P20-T20-P28™ are memory and educational frameworks. They do not replace official state or local definitions, laws, policies, signs, or riding rules.
THE KNOW YOUR RIDE PRE-RIDE FRAMEWORK
Build safer HABITS before every ride.
HABITS™
Helmet
- 2-V-1 fit
- Level, snug, buckled
Air & Tires
- Firm when pressed
- No cuts, cracks, or bulges
Brakes & Battery
- Brakes feel firm
- Battery secure and charged
Illumination
- Lights and reflectors ready
- Be seen in low light
Transmission
- Chain seated properly
- Cranks and gears move smoothly
Safe Start
- Final bike check
- Know your route and local rules
- Phone away
HABITS™ is a Know Your Ride educational framework of Care Forward Foundation. © 2026 Care Forward Foundation.
Limited noncommercial educational sharing is permitted under the Know Your Ride Terms of Use.
HABITS™ is a memory and educational framework. It does not replace manufacturer instructions, official state or local definitions, laws, policies, signs, or riding rules.
RIDE REVIEW SPECTRUM
When speed changes, responsibility changes with it.
The goal is not to label a rider or turn one concern into blame. The goal is to understand the ride clearly enough to protect independence, shared spaces, and the people around the rider.
Select a ride type to see what it usually means
Traditional
Traditional Bicycle
No motor assistance.
What this usually means
No motor assistance. Focus on fit, route, visibility, and shared space.
Questions to ask
Where will the rider travel, cross, park, and lock it?
Family/school note
Still part of the same independence conversation.
Watch before you compare
See Traditional Bicycle style in action
Videos are for education and comparison only. A review video does not confirm legal class. Check the label, manual, and manufacturer specs.
YouTube reviewClick to load
General ride review example
Traditional bike review example
YouTube reviewGeneral ride review example
YouTube reviewClick to load
Everyday bike setup example
Traditional bike review example
YouTube reviewEveryday bike setup example
YouTube reviewClick to load
General bike example
Traditional bike review example
YouTube reviewGeneral bike example
Educational only. This spectrum does not decide legal status or school policy. It helps people pause, verify, and choose the next step with care.
Start here
Start where the decision begins.
Is a family deciding on a bike? Is a rider trying to understand what changes near people? Is a school looking for words that calm instead of escalate? Choose the path that fits the moment.
For Parents & Ride Decisions
Is this ride safe for my child?
Speed, bike type, and road context all influence safety more than most people realize.
Open Parent GuideFor E-Bike Riders
What does responsible riding actually look like?
Every choice on the road affects your safety and how others experience shared spaces.
Open Rider GuideFor Neighbors & Community Groups
How do we raise concerns without making assumptions?
Use calm language to separate bike details, rider behavior, location rules, and immediate safety needs.
Open Community GuideFor Schools & Educators
How can we communicate e-bike safety clearly?
Help students and families align on expectations with consistent, practical guidance.
Open School ToolkitNot sure what you're seeing?
What type of bike or situation is this?
Different e-bikes behave differently. Speed and context can change risk quickly.
Check a BikeWHY FAMILIES ARE CHOOSING E-BIKES
Freedom is the promise. Responsibility is what protects it.
E-bikes can make longer distances, hills, school commutes, and everyday trips more accessible for many families.
The benefits are real. So are the responsibilities that come with higher speeds and shared spaces. Know Your Ride is not about choosing sides between bikes and e-bikes. It is about helping families understand how speed, route, environment, and rider behavior shape every ride.
Hills and longer distances can feel reachable, not overwhelming.
A school commute may become possible when route, speed, storage, and expectations are clear.
Outdoor time, local errands, and weekend plans can fit into more family routines.
Different fitness levels can ride together with more comfort and confidence.
Greater independence becomes possible when expectations and responsibilities are understood.
Traditional bikes still matter. They remain simple, healthy, affordable, and deeply freeing.
QUESTIONS WE HELP ANSWER BEFORE YOU DECIDE
Before the answer, understand the ride.
A product name, a friend’s recommendation, or a marketing page may not show what the bike can actually do. These questions help families, riders, and schools look at the real ride: how it starts, how fast it goes, where it will be used, and what responsibility comes with it.
Does it have working pedals?
Why it matters
Pedals matter because they help show whether the ride behaves like a bicycle or only looks like one.
Is there a throttle?
Why it matters
A throttle can make starts faster, tighter, and harder to manage near people, crossings, and school arrivals.
What is the top assisted speed?
Why it matters
Speed changes the responsibility. A 20 mph ride, a 28 mph ride, and an unlocked setting deserve different conversations.
What does the motor listing say?
Why it matters
Watts, peak power, and product wording can reveal more than the model name does.
Can it unlock or switch modes?
Why it matters
Some settings can change how the bike behaves after purchase. That matters before deciding where and how it should be used.
Where will it be ridden?
Why it matters
The same bike can mean something different on a trail, sidewalk, school route, bike lane, or shared path.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Every conversation moves the mission forward.
Our Growing Impact
Together, we're building a culture of safety, awareness, and responsibility.
13+
Community Partners
Organizations working together to promote safer rides.
10+
Volunteers
Dedicated community volunteers helping spread awareness.
10+
Community Events
Events participated in across our community.
3000+
People Reached
Through events, conversations, and outreach efforts.
100%
Free Educational Resource
Always free. Always community-focused.
IT TAKES A COMMUNITY
Every safer ride starts with someone who cares.
Together, we make every ride safer.
Join parents, riders, educators, and communities building a culture of safety and respect.