Ebikes on Mackinac Island are banned for recreational use. The only people who can legally ride one are visitors and residents with a mobility disability, and even then the bike must be a Class 1 model registered in person with the island’s police department. Everyone else rides a regular pedal bike, takes a horse-drawn taxi, or walks.
Why Ebikes Are Not Allowed
Mackinac Island has prohibited motor vehicles since 1898, and both local and state law now treat ebikes as motor vehicles. Mackinac Island City Ordinance Section 66-31 classifies any electric bicycle as a motor vehicle unless it meets the separate requirements of Ordinance Section 66-167, the disability-access provision.1Mackinac State Historic Parks. E-Bike FAQ On top of that, Michigan Administrative Code R. 318.145 prohibits operating an electric bicycle anywhere in Mackinac Island State Park, which covers roughly 80% of the island.2Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Michigan Admin Code R 318.145 Between the two, there is effectively nowhere on the island to ride an ebike unless you qualify for the exception.
The Disability Exception
If you have a physical impairment that substantially limits your ability to pedal a bicycle, you can ride a Class 1 ebike on Mackinac Island. A Class 1 ebike provides motor assistance only while you are actively pedaling, cuts off at 20 miles per hour, and has no throttle.2Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Michigan Admin Code R 318.145 Under Michigan law, the bike must also have working pedals, a seat, and a motor of 750 watts or less.3Michigan Department of Natural Resources. E-bikes in Michigan The state park rule additionally requires that the bike carry a manufacturer’s label confirming its Class 1 status. If yours is unlabeled, expect trouble at registration.
Class 2 and Class 3 Ebikes
Class 3 ebikes, which assist up to 28 miles per hour, are never allowed on the island. Class 2 ebikes, which have throttles, are not allowed as sold. But if the throttle is permanently removed, the city will relabel the bike as a Class 1 and register it.4City of Mackinac Island. Forms and Documents A throttle that can simply be reattached does not count.
Electric Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters Are Different
Electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters do not go through the ebike process. If you rely on one because of a mobility disability, you can use it throughout the state park without a permit or registration.2Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Michigan Admin Code R 318.145 You can bring your own on the ferry at no extra charge, and several island rental shops rent electric scooters and manual wheelchairs.5Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau. Mackinac Island Accessibility One restriction: you cannot carry passengers on a personal mobility device.
How to Register a Qualifying Ebike
Registration has to happen in person after you arrive. The city specifically excludes ebikes from the mail-in option it offers for regular bicycles.4City of Mackinac Island. Forms and Documents Here is what to expect:
- Location: Mackinac Island Police Department, 7374 Market Street.
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Closed weekends.
- Cost: $3.50 per license, cash or check only, payable to the City of Mackinac Island.
- What to bring: the ebike itself for inspection, and the serial number located in advance. Forms missing a serial number will not be accepted.
- Inspection: staff verify the manufacturer’s Class 1 label and confirm there is no throttle.
Licenses are issued between April and October, which matches the island’s tourist season. If you have a Class 2 ebike with the throttle permanently removed, bring it in and explain the modification. On busy summer days, build in extra time for the line.
Penalties for Riding an Unauthorized Ebike
The island enforces the rules. If you ride an unregistered or non-qualifying ebike, the city can impound it and issue a ticket. Reported fines start around $110 for a first offense and go up for repeat violations within a two-year period, plus a separate impound fee to get the bike back. You also lose your transportation for the day. During peak season, island police routinely stop ebike riders to check for registration, and on an island this small, flying under the radar is unlikely.
Getting Around Without an Ebike
Most visitors do not need a motor. The island is about 3.8 miles long, and the Main Street area is walkable in an afternoon.
Regular Bicycles
Pedal bikes are the standard way to see the island. Rental shops cluster near the ferry docks, and rates generally run from about $11 to $25 per hour or $60 to $120 for a full day depending on the style of bike. Cruisers, gravel bikes, tandems, kids’ bikes, tag-alongs, and burley trailers are all available.6Island House Hotel. Bike Rental on Mackinac Island The classic route is M-185, the 8.2-mile shoreline loop that is the only state highway in the country with no motorized traffic. It is mostly flat, and a nonstop ride takes about an hour, though most people stop often for the views.7Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau. Bike Around the Island on the M-185 Route
Horse-Drawn Taxis
Horse-drawn taxis run on a zone-based fare system, with adult fares between $9 and $11.50 per person depending on distance. Children ages 5 through 12 ride at half fare when accompanied by an adult.8Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. Horse Drawn Taxi Service Taxis have minimum fare requirements, so a solo traveler on a short route may still pay for two fares. Guided carriage tours covering the island’s historic sites are a separate option.
Walking and Hiking
Beyond the shoreline road, the island’s interior has more than 70 miles of hiking and biking trails through forested bluffs and past rock formations and overlooks.9Mackinac State Historic Parks. A Journey Along Some of Mackinac Island’s Best Trails If you are staying overnight, the interior is worth a morning.
Sharing the Road With Horses
If you ride a regular bike, keep in mind that horses cannot stop quickly and can startle at sudden noises or fast approaches. Give them wide clearance and slow down when passing. Main Street, Market Street, and Cadotte Avenue get crowded with a mix of cyclists, pedestrians, and carriages, so expect to go slowly through downtown.10City of Mackinac Island. Mackinac Island Bicycle Safety Rules