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Marion council adopts ordinance clarifying e‑bike rules, sets 10 mph sidewalk limit
Summary
On April 9 the Marion City Council approved ordinance 26-03 to clarify e‑bike and scooter rules, add a 10 mph sidewalk speed limit and expand local enforcement while emphasizing education with schools and trail partners.
The Marion City Council on April 9 approved ordinance 26-03 to clarify regulation and enforcement of electric bicycles and scooters, including a 10 miles‑per‑hour speed limit on sidewalks and expanded local enforcement authority.
The ordinance was presented by Police Chief Sprag, who told the council that state law sets classes for e‑bikes but left ambiguities the city sought to resolve. "State law... if it doesn't have a pedal, if it's less than or more than 750 watts," he said, "this ordinance will allow us a little more teeth" and add a 10 mph sidewalk limit. Chief Sprag said the city plans an education campaign through schools, the SRO and trail associations alongside enforcement by bike‑patrol officers.
Elizabeth Sour, a board member of the Villas of Indian Creek homeowners association, urged action after multiple near‑misses on 29th Avenue near Indian Creek Elementary and Linmar High School. "The riders do not... slow down, and have come very close to hitting either a resident or a dog," she said, asking the council to prioritize child and resident safety. Councilmember Grant Harper supported an education‑forward approach and suggested producing a short video for consistent messaging for schools and parents.
Chief Sprag said enforcement will include trained officers on bikes to patrol trails and peak times and that much of the early work will be education: "when he sees ones that are clearly not legal in the state, he's approached the students and let them know and most of the time they just didn't know." The council discussed coordination with the Linmar school district and outreach to parents.
The ordinance was approved on final consideration by voice vote. The city said the change clarifies which devices are subject to enforcement, sets the sidewalk speed limit, and creates mechanisms for periodic review and amendment. Officials emphasized that education remains a large component of implementation and that enforcement will target unsafe or illegal devices and behaviors.
Next steps include public education through schools and trail groups and using the police bike patrol for outreach and enforcement as the ordinance goes into effect.
