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West Bend enacts new electric‑bicycle ordinance restricting sidewalk use, clarifying enforcement
Summary
The common council unanimously enacted an electric‑bicycle ordinance that defines three classes of e‑bikes, bars certain use on sidewalks downtown and for riders under 16 in some classes, streamlines impound rules, and directs education and stepped‑up enforcement.
The West Bend Common Council enacted an electric‑bicycle ordinance after staff and the police chief described public‑safety concerns and enforcement limits.
Staff presented an ordinance that mirrors existing scooter rules and incorporates the state’s three e‑bike classes, specifying where classes are allowed and where they are not. Council members and staff emphasized that class‑3 e‑bikes (top assisted speeds near 28 mph) present special concerns and are prohibited for riders under 16 on sidewalks; downtown sidewalks also remain off‑limits for bike operation except where the Riverwalk permits recreational use.
"There’s a significant amount of mass to them and speed," the staff presenter said, noting that e‑bikes can weigh far more than pedal bicycles and may reach speeds riders would not otherwise achieve. The police chief said the ordinance provides tools for education and enforcement and stressed parental responsibility for juvenile riders; he also confirmed that the Eisenbond (a state recreational trail) remains an authorized place to ride under state rules for certain e‑bike classes.
Council members asked about practical enforcement (difficulty distinguishing classes, hybrid modes, and tampering/hacking that can increase speed) and about forfeiture and penalty ranges for juvenile cases; staff said forfeiture amounts follow the standard municipal forfeiture table and gave age‑tiered citation examples discussed in the meeting. After discussion the council moved, seconded and voted unanimously to enact the ordinance on first reading, making it effective immediately.
Council and staff emphasized that the action pairs legal restrictions with an education campaign and ongoing traffic‑safety studies, and that officers will prioritize outreach before punitive enforcement when possible.
