Clark County adopts ordinance regulating e‑bikes and e‑scooters in parks, sets 15 mph limit

The Clark County Board of Commissioners on May 6 approved an amended ordinance to regulate electric bicycles and scooters on county property and rights-of-way, including parks and trails, while banning higher-speed electric motorcycles from county parks.

The ordinance codifies definitions for electric bicycles and scooters, sets a default 15 miles-per-hour speed limit in parks, requires basic safety equipment, and directs staff to install signage and run education programs before enforcement begins.

The change matters because county parks and trails are shared by pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians and people with disabilities. The board said the rules balance safety with access for commuters and recreational users.

Commissioner Justin Jones, Clark County Commissioner for District F, who led the item, said the ordinance adopts state e-bike classifications and adds local limits and equipment requirements to give law enforcement clear standards. "We're obviously going to be doing a lot of education before we start enforcement on any of these new rules so that people well understand what the guidelines are within our parks and our trails," Jones said.

Under the amended code, electric bicycles and scooters may be operated on county roadways, sidewalks, lanes, paths, pathways, routes, trails and within county parks, skate parks, bicycle parks and recreational facilities but must follow posted speed limits; the default within parks is 15 mph. The ordinance also requires a bell or horn, a front white light and rear reflectors for nighttime use, and functional brakes. Helmets are required for riders under 18; parents or guardians may be held liable for fines for minors. The county said reckless behavior, including stunts and unsafe speeds, remains subject to fines up to $600.

County staff summarized the changes made after public comment on the originally introduced ordinance, including: (1) explicitly adding e-bikes and e-scooters to the list of devices prohibited in the Resort Corridor restricted area; (2) permitting e-bikes and e-scooters on county parks and trails while imposing the 15 mph limit inside parks; and (3) banning electric motorcycles from county parks.

A county attorney staff member summarized the legal constraints: the county "pattern[s] our definition in complete conformity to the state law definition for e bicycles," and therefore the county cannot redefine wattage limits set in Nevada Revised Statutes without legislative change.

Public commenters raised a range of concerns. Gene Stump, a Henderson resident, said the proposal risked discriminating against seniors and people with disabilities who rely on throttle-equipped class 2 e-bikes for mobility, declaring, "Don't discriminate against us." Tracy Fossen, of Velafix Las Vegas, asked the county to distinguish e-bikes from higher-speed e-motorcycles and warned that some repair shops will not service e-motorcycles without different insurance; she told the board, "E motorcycles are not bicycles in any form other than a few of them actually put pedals on the bikes to try and get into that category of an e bicycle." Craig Davis, founder of bikerackmap.com, questioned several technical provisions and asked why the county would "discriminate against e bikes" based on motor size.

The board responded to commenters by removing language from the introduced version that would have restricted class 2 and class 3 e-bikes from parks, allowing those classifications to use county trails under the new rules. Commissioner Jones said that change was made to accommodate commuters and other legitimate users of e-bikes.

The ordinance approval follows a public hearing; Commissioner Jones moved approval of the amended ordinance and the motion passed. The county said staff will implement signage on parks and trails in coming months and run public education programs before citations are issued. Staff and law enforcement identified Clark County Park Police and Metro as responsible for on-the-ground enforcement.

The county also noted the limit of local authority on some technical points: definitions and wattage thresholds for e-bikes follow Nevada Revised Statutes and would require legislative action to change.

The measure brings Clark County code into alignment with state classifications while establishing local operational rules, safety equipment requirements and enforcement guidance for parks and trails.