"Freeway" only applies to the part of 23 that you posted about if it meets this definition.
ORC 4511
(YY) “Freeway” means a divided multi-lane highway for through traffic with all crossroads separated in grade and with full control of access.
If it is the normal, run of the mill state route, it's not a freeway. It has to be controlled access like parts of SR 32 in Southern Ohio. I drive the dirt bike on SR 124, SR 50, SR 138, etc (though admittedly, I try to avoid SR 50 because of the high speed traffic). We can't get around anywhere here without going on a state route and I even live on one so legislation preventing us from traveling here *should* get a huge legal fight. Besides, it would keep all the Amish and some Mennonite off of the roads and out of the communities here as their buggies would be illegal.
One can walk along these state routes legally as long as one follows the few rules about it in the ORC (facing traffic, yielding to vehicles, etc.) We walk the state routes all the time around here.
I checked
U.S. Route 23 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and only part of 23 is freeway.
# After US 23 intersects the northern terminus of Ohio State Route 315 and passes a retail district, it becomes a limited access expressway, bypassing downtown Delaware, before resuming as a freeway with at-grade crossings north of the city.[4]
# At Waldo, US 23 again becomes a freeway. It continues as a freeway throughout most of Marion County, then resumes at-grade crossings with a mix of some freeway-style junctions which are otherwise signalized after the Morral interchange.
AFAIK, most of the state routes in Ohio are
not the controlled access type that merit the title "freeway" and encumbered by said prohibitions. At least in Southern Ohio. Off the top of my head I can only think of parts of SR 32 and almost all of SR 35.
The interesting thing about the section posted is the way they approach describing a bicycle with a motor whereas the definition of a "motorized bicycle" is clearly defined and labeled as a "moped" elsewhere. I just found the inconsistency interesting and one of the things that struck me was: If this is newer language than the old "moped" language then it *might* have a sliver of use to motorized bicycle legislative suggestions in the future.
ORC 4501.01
(L) “Motorized bicycle” means any vehicle that either has two tandem wheels or one wheel in the front and two wheels in the rear, that is capable of being pedaled, and that is equipped with a helper motor of not more than fifty cubic centimeters piston displacement that produces no more than one brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of no greater than twenty miles per hour on a level surface.
One can plate almost anything with 2 but no more than 3 wheels as a motorcycle in Ohio. It can be done at all DMVs if one is patient but we just look for the easier to deal with offices. The 2008 Honda CRF100 dirt bike I ride all over my rural area is plated as a motorcycle. It required a change of body affidavit (no inspection in Ohio for that) and buy tags.
I, and other Ohioans for sure, would like motorized bicycle legislation enacted to make them exempt from the Moped rules and registration. It would be ideal to have them defined as bicycles.
