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Cary council asks staff for comprehensive review of e-bike and microtransit safety after resident concerns
Summary
After multiple residents described dangerous e-bike behavior on greenways and roads, Cary council unanimously referred a staff report to study a comprehensive e-bike/microtransit policy covering education, enforcement, equipment definitions and accessibility concerns.
Cary, N.C. — Citing repeated resident reports of high-speed e-bikes and safety risks to pedestrians and youth, the Cary Town Council on April 16 unanimously voted to refer a comprehensive review of e-bike and microtransit policy to staff.
Councilmember Sarika Bansal, who introduced the item, said the referral responds to constituent concerns from multiple districts. "I personally experienced this myself. I was on one of the trails and I almost got hit by a e-bike," she said, urging staff to evaluate enforcement, education, and regulatory options.
Councilmember Brittany Richards said the town should take a proactive approach rather than wait for a serious injury. She noted distinctions among electrically assisted pedal bikes, motorized mopeds, and fully motorized devices and asked staff to consider greenway versus roadway rules, signage and education programs.
Mayor Pro Tem Bush and other councilmembers emphasized resource limits for enforcement, noting that the police department is currently short-staffed. One councilmember cautioned against placing the entire burden on police and suggested peer-to-peer education and community partnerships. "We could engage the teen council in some peer-to-peer education," the councilmember said.
Councilmembers asked staff to prepare a report that would examine: definitions and equipment classes (what devices are allowed on greenways), appropriate speed limits, enforcement mechanisms consistent with state law, education and outreach (including signage and pilots), and accessibility needs for residents who rely on electric devices for mobility.
The motion adopted by the council directs staff to return with recommendations at a future council meeting for a "comprehensive review of our e-bike policy," including broader microtransit devices such as scooters and other electrically assisted or motorized small modes of transportation.
Next steps: Staff will prepare a report with recommended options for Council consideration; council did not set a specific deadline when it voted to refer the item.
Context: Residents raised e-bike safety during the public-speaks portion, and council discussion highlighted both public-safety risks for pedestrians and the need to preserve access for mobility-impaired users who rely on electric devices.
