For riding an electric bicycle on the bicycle path, there are fines of up to PLN 3,000 and more. Check what can happen when you break the rules and how to avoid trouble.
What threatens for riding an electric bicycle on a bicycle path?
Electric bicycles are everyday life on Polish streets. In 2025, we see them everywhere – from students flying to the university, to food suppliers, which sometimes sometimes exceed the speed limit on two -wheelers. And here it is worth stopping for a moment, because there is a hook – not every electric bike is a bike in the eyes of the law. So if your equipment goes beyond the recipes and you rush it along the bicycle path, you may be in trouble. Especially you, a pizza supplier, who sometimes forget that a bicycle path is not a race track!
What is the “prescribed” electric bike in 2025?
Let’s start from scratch, because without it, don’t move. According to the Act Road traffic law An electric bike is a vehicle that:
- has an engine with a maximum power of 250 W,
- supports driving only up to 25 km/h (above this speed turns off),
- It only works when you pedal – no gas shifter,
- It is powered by a voltage of up to 48 V.
If your e-bike meets these conditions, everything is ok-the law treats it like a regular bike. You can run around bicycle paths, you don’t need a driving license, and registration or liability insurance is just an option, not an obligation. However, if your equipment has a more powerful engine (e.g. 1000 W), it accelerates to 45-50 km/h or has a gas grip that allows you to go without pedaling-it’s not a bike anymore. It’s a moped or even a motorcycle. And here the stairs begin.
Road for bicycles – not for everyone
Bicycle paths are a great solution for travelers with two -wheelers – you avoid traffic jams, you inhale less exhaust gases, and you feel a bit like a king of the road, when other cyclists sneak around from time to time. The law speaks clearly. Bicycle paths can only be used by bikes, including electric ones, which fit into the definition discussed earlier. If your e-bike is really a moped, because it has too much power or develops too high speed, you must not ride on the bicycle path. This is important information for food suppliers, who often invest in faster machines to make time with orders on time. The police and city guard are increasingly paying attention to this.
Fines – from small to specific
Okay, they caught you on a bicycle path on an electric bike. What now? In 2025, the ticket tariff did not save anyone, and the penalties went up after the amendment to the provisions in 2022. Here’s what can wait for you:
- Driving on a bicycle path with a vehicle that does not meet the requirements of an electric bike – fine from PLN 20 to even PLN 3,000. The height depends on the humor of the officer and how much your equipment differs from the norm.
- Lack of permissions -If your e-bike is a moped (e.g. supports pedaling at 45 km/h speeds), you need a driving license of the AM category. The penalty may be from PLN 1,500 to PLN 30,000 if the case goes to court.
- Driving on alcohol – There is no mercy here. Even on an electric bike treated like a bicycle, for riding under the influence (up to 0.5 per mil) you will get a PLN 1,000 fine, and in a state of intoxication (above 0.5 per mil) – PLN 2,500. If your e-bike is a moped, penalties are even higher, and the court may prohibit the driving of motor vehicles.
More than a fine – more serious consequences
The mandate is still half poverty. If your non-enthusiastic e-bike has no approval, license plates or liability insurance (and as a moped it should have it), you may have a bigger problem. The police can confiscate equipment and you will get a call to court. In extreme cases, e.g. when you cause an accident, compensation for victims is involved. Imagine that you will hit a pedestrian on a bicycle path – if your electric bike (and actually a moped) is not legal, the insurer will not pay a penny, and you will pay off for years.
How to protect yourself from problems?
You don’t have to give up an electric bike to ride legally. A few simple rules and you are safe:
- Check your bike parameters – power up to 250 W, support up to 25 km/h, without a shifter.
- If you want faster equipment, register it as a moped, argue OC and AM driving license (if you are not 18).
- Stick to the road if your e-bike is not a “bike” in the eyes of the law.
- Do not combine with modifications and “chips” – the police will quickly catch that something is wrong.
