Police announce 45‑day outreach campaign on e‑bike, e‑scooter and motor‑driven cycle rules

The Phoenix Police Department will launch a 45‑day education and outreach campaign beginning the day after the briefing to inform riders, parents and community groups about rules governing electric bicycles, electric scooters and motor‑driven cycles, a department commander said Wednesday.

Commander Leif Myers said the department will lead with education and that enforcement will follow the outreach period. "Effective tomorrow, the Phoenix Police Department will implement a 45 day educational campaign to educate riders and parents on the laws of each platform," Myers said.

The update summarized how each platform is regulated under Arizona law (Title 28 references) and city code. Myers explained the commonly observed distinctions: class 1 and class 2 e‑bikes provide pedal assist with top speeds up to 20 mph, class 3 e‑bikes provide pedal assist up to 28 mph; electric stand‑up scooters are treated similarly to e‑bikes for local enforcement purposes; and motor‑driven cycles (pocket bikes, e‑cycles without pedals) are treated as motor vehicles under state law and require registration, insurance and a license on roadways.

Myers told the subcommittee that the city code prohibits electric bikes and e‑scooters on sidewalks and sets a minimum operator age of 16. For motor‑driven cycles, he said, all traffic laws apply and helmets and endorsements may be required. The department said it will publish guidance on phoenix.gov, distribute materials to schools and community groups, test signage for high‑use areas and publicize the QR code the department created for online information.

Several councilmembers expressed concern about off‑road use and crashes in washes and parks and asked whether officers can impound vehicles when registration or insurance is absent. Myers said impound is possible for unregistered motor‑driven cycles used on roadways and urged a community focus on education before broad enforcement.