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TMAC members press for education and enforcement on e-bikes, e-scooters as helmet rules expand
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Summary
Committee members discussed proposed state changes to helmet and training requirements for high‑powered electric devices, debated enforcement capacities, and proposed partnering with BYU, UVU and local school districts for broad public-education campaigns.
Committee members used the March meeting to discuss safety, enforcement and education related to e-bikes, e-scooters and other high‑power electric devices as state legislation moves to expand definitions and safety requirements.
Members reviewed recent legislative language that removes the old "motor driven cycle" category and introduces a broader definition for high‑power electric devices — generally those capable of more than 20 mph on motor power alone — and described potential enforcement consequences. A committee member summarized the bill as creating an ‘‘off‑road” classification for devices that exceed the state threshold, and noted that the common speed denominator in several provisions is 20 miles per hour.
Panel participants stressed that public education is critical for compliance. "The law hasn't really been the problem. The public awareness of the law, there's a big deficit that's been there the whole time," one member said, proposing partnerships with Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University and local school districts for a coordinated outreach campaign and back‑to‑school messaging.
Members raised enforcement limitations: police can enforce speed limits on trails and stop devices on Provo trails that post lower speed limits, but broad enforcement will be resource‑intensive. Staff suggested leveraging social media and paid posts to extend reach and encouraged asking schools to repost official safety content.
The committee discussed age and training thresholds for unsupervised use; several members called for stronger limits for younger riders, while others said that such restrictions would require state action rather than local ordinances. The discussion did not produce a TMAC action; members asked staff to continue outreach planning and to coordinate with police and school-district channels.
Next steps include refining a public-education plan and evaluating enforcement options with the city police department and traffic operations.
