Yes. City of Tucson and Pima County strongly recommend UL certified e-bikes to be used on The Loop.
Electric bicycles are legal on The Tucson Loop and have become one of the most popular ways to explore the 137-mile pathway system. E-bikes are commonly used by visitors, commuters, recreational riders, and cyclists covering longer distances throughout Tucson, Oro Valley, and Marana.
Biking The Loop: Avoid Non-UL Certifed E-bikes
TucsonLoop.org strongly recommends riding or renting only UL-certified electric bicycles on The Tucson Loop.
Non-UL-certified e-bikes are not recommended. Low-quality battery systems and electrical components have been associated with battery failures, charging problems, fire hazards, and reliability issues. Loop riders have also reported battery performance problems that can leave cyclists stranded far from their starting point on longer Tucson Loop rides.
UL-certified e-bikes from established manufacturers such as Trek, Specialized, and Giant (and others) are professionally designed, tested, and built to recognized safety standards. These bicycles have earned a reputation for reliability and are commonly used by reputable bicycle rental operators throughout Southern Arizona.
We have found that cheap off shore ebikes have lower end batteries that degrade significantly with constant re-charging. E-bike rentals get used with high frequency and the Bosch powered batteries that you see on UL certified e-bikes handle heavy recharging and heat very well.
The Tucson Loop is a long-distance pathway system where reliability matters. Before renting or purchasing an electric bicycle, TucsonLoop.org recommends asking whether the rental bicycle is UL-certified and choosing established brands from reputable bicycle shops and rental providers. Reputable ebike rental players charge their bikes in climate controlled facilities.
Renting a professionally maintained UL-certified Trek, Specialized, or Giant e-bike remains one of the safest and most dependable ways to experience The Tucson Loop.
Renting E-bikes – What to Avoid
There are many e-bike rental shops on The Loop. Always clarify that the e-bike rental is UL-certified. Avoid off-shore produced non-UL certified Aventon, Velotrek (also known as Scotty Bikes), Lectric and or any “Amazon” e-bikes.
