Advisory board approves e-bike ordinance package, adds 750-watt limit and helmet rules

The Grand Island Traffic Safety Advisory Board voted April 14 to advance a package of local e-bike rules that adds a 750-watt power limit, helmet and reflective-clothing requirements and dusk-to-dawn language to be sent to the town attorney and other advisory boards for review.

Jim Castello, sales director at Burt's Bikes, told the board that state law treats bicycles with motors of 750 watts or less as bicycles and that class 1 and 2 e-bikes commonly top out near 20 miles per hour while class 3 models may assist up to 28 mph. "Anything over 750 watts is not street legal at all," Castello said, arguing a wattage cap gives municipalities a clear line to enforce.

Castello described enforcement challenges he has seen in nearby communities and urged education alongside penalties: "It's education and enforcement," he said, pointing to helmet rules, fines and confiscation policies other towns have used. He also suggested community programs such as supervised "bike-bus" rides to school to improve safe usage.

Board members asked questions about range, chargers and how officers would identify illegally powered bikes. Castello said typical ranges are 40–60 miles on a charge and that some higher-end models reach 100–120 miles; he noted most legal e-bikes carry classification stickers indicating class and wattage.

Chair said the advisory board will add language reflecting the state vehicle-and-traffic definitions (for example dusk-to-dawn) and will forward the draft ordinance to the town attorney and, subsequently, to the governing board and other advisory boards before a public hearing. The board voted in favor of the package in a roll-call vote and the motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: the draft ordinance will go to the town attorney for legal review, return to advisory boards for comment and then be scheduled for a public hearing at the governing board level.