Where can i ride in the great state of Ohio?

I know how to build my bike in order to meet Ohio requirements, but I can't figure out where I can ride it. Since i travel 34 miles each way to work, i figured i could save a few bucks if i could make it in a reasonable time (about 1 hour each way). I mean, can i ride it on the side walk? Do I have to ride it on the road? We have tons of trails in this part of Ohio (rails to trails) But i am having a hard time finding definitive info....any help is appreciated?

I guess for you Ohioans another question is, where do you ride?

Welcome to the forum. Bikeguyjoe will be able to fix you right up on the Ahia laws. He's real motorized bicycle wizzard. Glad you joined us.......................

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in wa. motoredbikes can ride bike trails

Its very likely the police would have you for lunch if you rode an MB on the pavement/sidewalk - legal or otherwise... its pedestrian for a reason - and most people dont expect what is effectively a baby motorcycle coming at them at a fair portion of local lightspeed...

Other than that I havent had any problems up until recently and I think that was possibly just an excuse to check me out . Goddess knows what they must have thought lol

Mostly cops will leave you alone if you ride sensibly - half of the time they probably wont even notice unless you show off in front of them... but I have to admit to knowing nothing about ohio laws re MB's I just use common sense and am careful..

Jemma xx

I ride on the road. No sidewalks!
I ride on main state routes as well as secondary and waaay out in the boonies roads.
If you rode on the bike paths here, they'd take your bike.

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Glad to learn this from you!!

I am super paranoid about trails around here, many say NO motorized vehicles, but I guess that's what kill switches are for!

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I've done a fair amount of research on this and according to the Digest Of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, motorized bicycle kits are illegal, no exceptions.

Ohio law does not distinguish motor-assisted bicycles from mopeds, they are the same to them.

Definition of a Motorized Bicycle
Section 4511.01H of the Ohio Revised Code defines a motorized bicycle as
any vehicle with two tandem wheels or one front and two rear wheels which is
capable of being pedaled and is also equipped with a helper motor. The law specifies
that the helper must:
- Have a piston displacement of no more than 50 cubic centimeters.
- Produce no more than one-brake horsepower.
- Propel the vehicle to a maximum speed of no greater than 20 mph on a
level surface.

Any motor-driven or motor-assisted cycle which exceeds any of these limitations is legally a motorcycle and is subject to all vehicle registrations and operator licensing requirements that apply to full-sized motorcycles.
In addition to the requirements listed above, all motorized bicycles must be
approved by the director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety as meeting
the basic equipment standards.

That is all fine, but here's the real problem...

A vehicle does not become a motorized bicycle until the Department of Public Safety includes that vehicle on its approved list. For a copy of the list of all makes and models approved for sale in Ohio as a moped.

From another OBMV source:

Just because something looks like a moped, that doesn't guarantee it is one in the eyes of the law. Only the Ohio Department of Public Safety can certify which vehicles meet state standards. You should not accept anyone else's statement that a vehicle is a moped.
...
APPROVED MODELS

In the case of manufacturers who market more than one model, only models listed below are approved by the State of Ohio. Only vehicles on this list may legally be operated as "mopeds" in Ohio.

AMF "Roadmaster"
Aspes
Balboa (Sach's)
Baretta Model 49cc
Batavus
Benelli "Blazar"
Bermuda 147F
Bermuda 147FA
Califfo
Carabella "Motomatic" 49cc only
Cimatti "City-Bike"
Clinton 50-A
Columbia "Commuter"
Columbia "Imperial"
Columbia "Medallion 2271"
Columbia "Medallion 2281"
Columbia "Model 57062"
Columbia "Model 2251"
Columbia "Model 2241"
Columbia "Motrek"
Columbia "Western Flyer"
Com Ute
Concord "XKE"
Cosmo "Blazar I"
Cosmo "Blazar II"
Cosmo "Colt I"
Cosmo "Colt II"
Derbi "C-5 Diablo"
Derbi "Laguna Sport"
Derbi "RD-50"
Derbi"S/L"
Derbi "S/L/E"
Derbi "T/T"
Eagle "1"
Eagle "3"
F. Morini
Flandria 101
Flandria 102
Gadabout
Garelli "Basic"
Garelli "Rally SL"
Garelli "Rally Sport"
Garelli "Sport"
Garelli "Super Sport"
General 5-Star
General 5-Star (Ltd. Ed)
General 5-Star ST (Min. Eng.)
General 5-Star ST (Sach's Eng.)
Hercules "P-1"
Hercules "M-4"
Honda "Hobbit"
Honda PA 50
Indian AM 1-50
Intramotor "Blanco"
Intramotor "Pinto"
Intramotor "Scout"
Italvelo
J.C. Penney "Pinto"
J.C. Penney "Swinger"
Jagar Model EB-1Z4-BA
Jawa "Automatic 120"
Jawa"120"
Jawa "210"
Jawa "210 Sport"
Jawa "Supreme 2"
Jawa Transistor 40
Jawa "X20"
Jawa "X25"
KKM Interprises, Inc. "Mopet"
Kreidler MP-9 (Flory)
Kreidler MP-19
Lambretta Eagle
Lazer Sport 50
Lem
Majestic Auto LTD. "Ankur"
Majestic Auto LTD. "Pacer"
Majestic Auto LTD. "Panther"
Malagutti "Commuter 20"
Malanca "Roxi"
Malanca "Tiger"
Marina Mobilia "Motomarina"
Monto "Autopower"
Monto "Kobra"
Monto "Mont"
Monto "Super Sport"
Motobecane
Moto Guzzi "Robin"
Motron "Medalist"
Negrini "Gazelle"
Negrini "Harvard"
Negrini "MX Sport"
Odyssey
Peugeot103L2U1
Peugeot103LSU1
Prima (Sach's)
Puch "Astro Daimler"
Puch "Astro Daimler Two-Speed"
Puch "Beta"
Puch "Cobra"
Puch "Dart"
Puch Magnum "II"
Puch Magnum "Limited LTD"
Puch Magnum "MK II"
Puch Magnum "XK"
Puch "Maxi"
Puch "Maxi II"
Puch "Maxi GN"
Puch "Maxi Luxe"
Puch "Maxi N"
Puch "Maxi Plus"
Puch "Maxi S"
Puch "Maxi Sport"
Puch "Maxi Sport LS"
Puch "Maxi Sport LS 2-speed"
Puch "Mini Maxi"
Puch "Newport"
Puch "Newport II"
Puch "Newport L"
Puch "Nostalgia"
Puch"Sport I"
Puch "Sport MKII"
Sach "Carrier I"
Sach "Carrier II"
Sach"Feugo"
Sach "G-3"
Sach "G-4"
Sach "Minor"
Sach "Mopet"
Sach "Saxy"
Sears "Free Spirit Moped
(Nos. 80800, 80810,80840)
Seville (Sach's)
Solex
Suburban (Sach's)
Sundancer (Sach's)
Tomos "A3SL"
Tomos "A-3 Bullet"
Tomos "A-3 Bullet TT"
Tomos "A-3 Golden Bullet"
Tomos "A-3 Golden Bullet TT-LX"
Tomos "Silver Bullet SL"
Trac "Blitz"
Trac "Clipper"
Trac "Eagle"
Trac "Hawk"
Trac "Olympic"
Trac "Sprint"
Vespa "Bravo"
Vespa "Ciao"
Vespa"Grande"
Vespa "Sl"
Wards Model 57008
Westlake (Sach's)
Wildfire WF-20MB
Wildfire WF-24MB
Wildfire WF-26MB

So even if you were able to put a headlight, mirror, turn signals, brake light, etc on it, unless your motorized bicycle is an actual moped manufactured of one of the exact makes/models shown above with a commercial manufacturer VIN number, you cannot apply for registration and a motorized bicycle license plate. Only the approved makes/models shown above are allowed on Ohio roads.

sources:
http://bmv.ohio.gov/pdf_forms/HSY-7607.pdf
Moped Information

I've had no hassles for the last year.
I don't think they really care as long as you aren't riding crazy and acting a fool. If you live in a city, ask the local cops what they would do.

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If it ain't broke, and you mess with it long enough, it will be.

Pick one from the above list and tell 'em it's heavily modified!

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If it ain't broke, and you mess with it long enough, it will be.

Finally, the penalty is a minor mistemeanor (sp?) I you are real nice, the cop may let you go with a warning like "I don't want to see you out here again".

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If it ain't broke, and you mess with it long enough, it will be.