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Maricopa council approves sidewalk rules for e-bikes and scooters, requires helmets for under-18s
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Summary
The City of Maricopa voted 6–1 to adopt code amendments allowing electric bicycles and scooters on sidewalks under behavior-based safety rules and requiring helmets for riders under 18; a companion jaywalking prohibition passed 7–0.
Maricopa’s City Council on April 21 adopted changes to the city code that allow certain electric bicycles and scooters on sidewalks under a behavior-based safety standard and require riders younger than 18 to wear helmets.
The council voted 6–1 to pass the main ordinance after a lengthy discussion about enforcement and speed. Chief Goodman presented the ordinance and summarized public outreach staff received — 56 emailed comments and additional feedback forwarded by council members — and framed the policy as "behavior based," emphasizing yielding to pedestrians and operating at safe speeds relative to conditions rather than strictly enforcing a single numeric speed cap.
Supporters said the change gives riders a safer alternative when streets lack bike lanes, while opponents urged limits on higher-powered Class 3 e-bikes and numerical speed caps for clarity. Council member Vanessa Lierman moved to exclude Class 3 e-bikes from sidewalks; that amendment failed 2–5. After additional edits to restructure a few paragraphs for clarity, the main ordinance passed 6–1.
The council also inserted a juvenile helmet requirement; under the adopted code riders under 18 must wear helmets while operating electric mobility devices on sidewalks, and violations are civil code violations. Chief Goodman said the requirement is intended to aid education and parental enforcement and that the department will pair enforcement with outreach, including a bicycle rodeo and school-focused materials.
Council members debated enforceability. Chief Goodman described federal and national e-bike classifications and said enforcement of a rigid numeric speed limit would be challenging in practice; staff recommended an officer’s reasonable-and-prudent standard focused on safety and predictable interactions with pedestrians.
A separate, related ordinance to prohibit jaywalking passed 7–0 on the council’s consent to strengthen pedestrian safety measures.
The ordinance takes effect according to the city’s normal publication dates; staff said they will follow the adoption with education campaigns, signage and partnerships with the police traffic unit to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and device operators.
