Cary council hears police, staff outline e-bike safety data and options for education, enforcement and ordinance changes

Cary Town Council members on June 23 heard a detailed briefing from town public-safety staff on electric mobility devices, including e-bicycles, mopeds and electric motorcycles, and discussed next steps that emphasize education, enforcement and possible ordinance changes.

Interim Manager Russ Overton opened the session and turned the presentation over to Police Chief Salt, who said state law and town code focus on speed and power when distinguishing devices. "An ebike is basically no greater than 750 watts on the motor," Chief Salt said. "The maximum speed is 20 miles an hour on a flat surface." He added that mopeds and motorcycles exceed those thresholds and are treated as motor vehicles under state statute.

Cassie, a town staff member working with the police department and greenway advisory board, summarized Cary's recent local experience. She said the town ran a pilot program from 2022 to 2024 that led to a permanent ordinance allowing class 1'1 e-bikes on greenways, and that Cary followed the pilot with a greenway safety campaign. "That safety campaign did cost about $200,000," Cassie said, and staff have "responded to over 200 calls for service since January of 2025" and investigated "four crashes involving e-bikes on the roadway since January of 2025."

The presentation highlighted where Cary already sets rules: the town allows class 1'2 and class 3 e-bikes on greenways and sidewalks under a 15 mph greenway speed limit, prohibits mopeds and motorcycles from greenways and sidewalks, and defers to state law for roadway rules. Staff noted that neighboring towns take different approaches: some jurisdictions set 10 mph greenway limits, restrict class 3 e-bikes on sidewalks, or add penalties and impoundment authority to their ordinances.

Council members pressed staff on several enforcement and design questions. Staff said municipalities generally have local authority to set greenway rules and speed limits, but age-based restrictions and certain sidewalk or roadway rules may be preempted by state law. Because speed limits are difficult to enforce without detection technology or dedicated patrols, staff emphasized a three-part approach: continued education (web pages, social media, demonstrations and school outreach), targeted enforcement (using cameras and focused patrols in high-complaint areas) and, if desired, ordinance language that creates concrete penalties for violations.

Staff presented options including building a single public-facing web page, continuing social-media infographics and HOA outreach, expanding signage at trailheads, piloting targeted camera enforcement, and drafting ordinance amendments that would define additional mobility devices and establish fines or forfeiture language. Staff recommended returning to council in the fall with draft ordinance language and cost estimates for signage and enforcement staffing.

Council discussion emphasized focusing on risky behavior rather than penalizing compliant users. Several members supported further education and coordination with schools and nonprofits; others stressed that any penalty scheme should be feasible to enforce. No vote was taken. The council asked staff to return in the fall with a range of options and expected costs, including possible language that would allow the town to impose penalties where feasible.

The work session moved on to the town's second council-initiated item, a smokefree ordinance review; staff will bring back both e-bike options and proposed ordinance text later this year.