Indian Trail council seeks legal options after residents warn e-bikes threaten sidewalk safety

Residents, council and law-enforcement officials continued a months-long conversation Tuesday about e-bikes and other motorized personal devices, with multiple speakers urging local rules after repeated sidewalk incidents.

"As a pedestrian, I was struck five years ago. I had a concussion," resident Linda Avery told the council, urging measures to keep e-bikes off sidewalks and to create safer alternatives such as designated off-road trails. Lily Hon, another Brandon Oaks resident, told the council she has seen devices that can exceed 15 to 45 mph on sidewalks and warned that unhelmeted children riding powerful scooters and e-bikes put walkers, pets and babies at real risk.

Union County law enforcement told council that, under current North Carolina practice, many e-bikes are classified like traditional bicycles and are permitted on sidewalks unless locally restricted. "An ebike is considered the same as a bicycle. It has to have pedals. It can't go over a certain mile per hour," the sheriff's representative said, but cautioned that some owners modify equipment and that enforcement resources are finite.

Town attorney Melanie Cox and Captain Mullis of the sheriff's office said they plan to meet and identify what statutory enforcement tools already exist and where municipal civil ordinances could fill gaps without creating conflict or duplicative enforcement burdens. Council members asked staff to collect example ordinances from nearby towns (including Waxhaw and Mint Hill) and to craft options that are practically enforceable by the sheriff's office and code enforcement.

No ordinance was adopted tonight. Councilmembers emphasized they prefer a tailored, enforceable approach rather than a broad ban that could unintentionally force inexperienced minors onto busy roadways. Staff and the sheriff's office will prepare a joint briefing of statutory options and recommended local language for council consideration.