The proposed bill aims to establish the West Virginia Behavior-Based E-Bike and Multi-Use Trail Mobility Act, which will create a comprehensive regulatory framework for various personal mobility devices, including bicycles, electric bicycles, and adaptive mobility devices on public multi-use trails. The bill outlines the purpose of promoting safety, protecting vulnerable users, and supporting outdoor recreation while ensuring that West Virginia's laws remain relevant to emerging micromobility technologies. It includes definitions of key terms, operational classes for devices based on behavior, and safety requirements, such as yielding protocols and speed regulations.

Additionally, the bill provides for enforcement mechanisms, penalties for violations, and the establishment of uniform signage standards for trails. It grants rulemaking authority to the Division of Natural Resources and mandates the publication of a model ordinance to facilitate local adoption. The bill also requires trail managing authorities to maintain incident logs and submit annual reports for statewide analysis. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 20-20-1, 20-20-2, 20-20-3, 20-20-4, 20-20-5, 20-20-6, 20-20-7, 20-20-8, 20-20-9, 20-20-10, 20-20-11, 20-20-12, 20-20-13