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Edina delays decision on e-bike sidewalk rules; council signals it will add helmet requirement for under‑18 riders
Summary
After hours of discussion about electric-assisted bicycles, sidewalk access and enforcement, the council voted to postpone adoption of ordinance 2025‑04 to April 16 and to prioritize adding a helmet requirement and a clarified sidewalk definition for interim enforcement and public education.
The Edina City Council discussed proposed changes to the city code governing bicycles and electric-assisted bicycles and agreed to postpone a decision to its April 16 meeting while moving forward with an interim focus on helmet education for riders under 18.
City staff recommended adopting City Council Member Risser’s sidewalk definition ("that portion of a street between the curb lines or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property lines intended for use for pedestrians") and said the most important element to implement quickly is the helmet requirement for riders younger than 18. Director Milner told the council the police department supports a helmet requirement as an enforceable basis for education and outreach.
Council members debated whether electric-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) should be explicitly allowed on sidewalks, with some members citing safety concerns for pedestrians and others noting that ordinary bicycles and younger riders sometimes use sidewalks for safety. Council Member Risser said she is opposed to allowing e-assist bikes on sidewalks; others asked for a more methodical public process that would consider shared-use paths, downtown business districts, and the city’s pending Safe and Equitable Mobility Plan.
Police lieutenant Dave Veni and staff described outreach the department would like to do with schools and families; the department said some calls relate to middle‑school‑aged children riding electric devices that are not legal for their age group. Attorney Kendall confirmed that state statutes (cited in the staff report) distinguish ordinary bicycles from electric-assisted bicycles for the purposes of local regulation and that the council could revisit sidewalk access after broader public engagement.
Council action: the council voted to continue the ordinance discussion and any final adoption to April 16, giving staff time to return with clarified wording on the sidewalk definition and helmet provisions and to coordinate a public education effort. Member Jackson said he would offer an amendment for the sidewalk definition; Member Risser said she wants an immediate helmet requirement for those under 18. Member Milner said the Safe and Equitable Mobility Plan (a multi‑modal update that consolidates bike/ped plans) is underway and will bring broader public engagement in 2025–2026.
Why it matters: e-bikes and other electric mobility devices are rising in popularity; the council must balance pedestrian safety, equitable access, enforcement practicality and the need for clear, enforceable code language. A helmet requirement for under‑18 riders creates an immediate public‑safety tool while the council considers broader policy changes.
What’s next: staff will prepare revised ordinance language incorporating the agreed sidewalk definition and helmet requirement options, and the council will revisit the ordinance at the April 16 meeting after further review and public engagement.
