City staff outlines proposed e‑bike rules: helmets for faster devices, age limits and downtown sidewalk bans

Hill Cayman of City Legal briefed the Parks and Built Environment Committee on a staff proposal to clarify and, where necessary, regulate electric bicycles and similar motorized personal transporters.

Citing what staff described as a roughly fourfold increase in e‑bike use and rising emergency‑department visits, Hill Cayman told the committee that e‑bike injuries — particularly among youth — have increased and that fast‑moving consumer modifications complicate enforcement. “ED visits for ebikes have been doubling every year since 2017,” he said during the presentation.

Staff reviewed state classifications and proposed local rules that align with those categories. Under state definitions summarized by staff, Class 1 assist only when pedaling (no throttle), Class 2 may propel without pedaling up to 20 mph, and Class 3 provides assist while pedaling up to 28 mph. Hill Cayman said vehicles that exceed 20 mph on motor power alone are treated as electric motorcycles under separate law.

To address safety and the rapid pace of new devices, staff proposed a set of measures for council feedback: require helmets for devices that can travel more than 20 mph and for all riders under 16; limit Class 3 operation by age; keep bikes and scooters off downtown sidewalks and in zone‑specific areas where pedestrian traffic is heavy; and preserve Class 1 and 2 access on shared use paths while disallowing Class 3 on multi‑jurisdictional trails unless every jurisdiction agrees.

On enforcement and equipment, staff suggested equipment minimums (lights at night, noise limits), labeling to discourage illegal speed modifications, civil infractions and fines for most violations, limited impoundment authority in narrowly defined circumstances, and a criminal reckless‑endangerment penalty for extreme or willful conduct that places others at serious risk.

Hill Cayman emphasized that code changes should be paired with a public outreach and education campaign so residents understand the new rules and the safety rationale. Staff asked the committee for input and said they will prepare draft ordinance language and return for further review.

Committee members thanked staff, noted enforcement resource limits and the need to balance safety with practical use (for example, keeping low‑speed devices accessible for short trips), and asked staff to return after additional community outreach and a Vision Zero briefing.