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Snoqualmie committee hears injury reports, police outline enforcement and education options for e-bikes and electric motorcycles
Summary
At an April 21 Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee meeting residents described collisions and near-misses involving electric bicycles and larger electric motorcycles. Interim Police Chief Gary Horace reviewed state definitions, municipal code options and enforcement discretion; no new ordinances were adopted.
The Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee on April 21 heard multiple public comments describing collisions, near-misses and safety concerns involving electric bicycles and larger electric motorcycles, and interim police leadership outlined how state law and the city code apply and what enforcement and education steps the department plans next.
Residents told the committee about injuries and dangerous riding behavior they say has become more common on Snoqualmie Ridge and the Parkway. "They are doing a fine job," resident Lara Clark said in reference to police outreach, but asked that adults avoid posting identifiable pictures of minors on social media. Joanne Dyer said her husband was injured by a rider; Charles Vision (who asked to be called "Butch") described being knocked about six feet, receiving five stitches above his right eye and a concussion after an 8-year-old on an e-scooter struck him.
Interim Chief Gary Horace summarized state and local rules and the department's approach. Horace said electric bicycles are defined in the Revised Code of Washington and limited by motor size (750 watts) and class: class 1 and 2 assist to 20 mph, class 3 to 28 mph. He said some larger off-road-style electric motorcycles are classified under RCW 46.04.332 as motor-driven cycles, may have up to 5 brake horsepower, can reach much higher speeds, and must meet vehicle requirements (registration, plate, insurance) to be lawful on roads.
"These are motorcycles," Horace told the committee. "That means they are only legal for road use if the owner obtains a license plate, registers them, gets insurance. They are treated just like a motorcycle." He said motor-driven cycles are not lawful on sidewalks, in bike lanes or on park trails and that Washington law restricts operation of those machines by persons under 16.
Horace reported the department had responded to 63 calls for e-bike or e-motorcycle service in roughly 16 months and described a mix of education and enforcement: warnings to juveniles and parents, targeted patrols in high-volume areas, social-media and school-district outreach, and coordination with city and county prosecutors when criminal charges are appropriate. "I don't want to arrest 8, 10, 12 year olds for bicycle violations," he said, adding that the municipal code (SMC 10.35.060) includes parental-responsibility language and that repeated violations can lead to misdemeanor charges.
Committee members discussed next steps and balance between preserving multimodal options and public safety. Councilmember Kara Christiansen said she rides a class 2 bike and favored retaining access for responsible users while acting against a small group creating hazards. Councilmember Catherine Cotton asked about helmet and age rules and about targeted area restrictions; Horace said helmet laws apply broadly and that restricting specific parks or streets would require code and zoning work with city attorneys. The chair, Rob Wotton, and staff noted coordination with neighboring North Bend is needed because the same riders cross jurisdictions.
No new ordinance or regulatory change was adopted at the meeting. Committee directions included continued education campaigns with the school district and ROA, extra patrols in identified hot spots, and further review of municipal code language in coordination with the city attorney and North Bend city counsel. The committee added speed-camera and drone use to a future discussion list but took no formal policy votes on those items at this meeting.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve the April 21 agenda — moved by Councilmember Catherine Cotton; second by Councilmember Kara Christiansen; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Motion to approve minutes dated March 17, 2025 — moved by Councilmember Cotton; second by Councilmember Christiansen; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Motion to adjourn — moved by Councilmember Cott; second by Councilmember Christiansen; outcome: approved by voice vote.
Ending: Committee members asked staff to return with proposed code language options and enforcement clarifications and to schedule a joint public-safety meeting with North Bend; no formal rule changes or penalties were enacted during the April 21 session.
