Gilbert council enacts strict e-bike ordinance with immediate effect

The Gilbert Town Council on June 9 unanimously adopted ordinance 29-86, regulating electric bicycles, scooters and other micromobility devices and putting new age, equipment and conduct rules into law effective immediately.

Assistant Chief Mike Engstead of the Gilbert Police Department told the council the ordinance groups a range of devices into a single regulatory category and would, among other changes, impose age limits, require lights at night, and set a 15-mph speed cap for operators. "Class threes are slightly faster. They go up to 28 miles an hour," Engstead said, explaining the rationale for higher age limits on faster devices. The ordinance sets a minimum age of 12 for class 1 and 2 devices and 16 for class 3 devices and requires fitted and fastened helmets for riders under 18.

The law also expands illegal-parking provisions to cover micromobility devices, adds parental liability language and a reckless-riding offense that can reach misdemeanor level for conduct such as wheelies and intentional swerving, and applies DUI provisions to bicycles and similar devices. Businesses that rent or sell motorized devices would be required to inform purchasers of local rules, and the council included a Gilbert Transportation Device Safety Program: eligible violators can complete the program pre-court to have civil fines waived.

Residents who spoke at the public hearing supported many of the proposed requirements while urging clearer enforcement. Charles Montenegro, a Power Ranch resident, urged stronger helmet and lighting enforcement and more useful business notice rules. Lauren Reber asked whether signage could be used to exclude certain devices from neighborhood trails and raised concerns about unlicensed neighborhood vehicles and golf carts.

Council members discussed enforcement and program administration before approving the ordinance with a staff-proposed edit to require completion of the optional safety program prior to a fine being waived. The council recorded the vote and the mayor noted the ordinance’s immediate-effect clause, meaning the new rules are in force without a waiting period.

The ordinance text as adopted appears as ordinance number 29-86 in the town’s code amendments; the council’s adopted motion included a clarifying change to the program-waiver language. Implementation responsibility was assigned to Gilbert Police Department and municipal court processes for civil violations, and staff said they plan outreach to schools and retailers as summer activities ramp up.