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Niskayuna committee flags illegal electric dirt bikes, moves to draft local e‑bike rules
Summary
At the July 14 Police and Public Safety meeting, committee leaders warned that electric dirt bikes and modified e‑bikes are being ridden illegally on town roads and described a $2,350 impound fee under town code; members agreed to draft a local ordinance and coordinate with county partners.
At the July 14 Police and Public Safety meeting, the Chair warned residents that ATVs and electric dirt bikes are illegal on town roadways, sidewalks, bike paths and town property and said the town code sets an impound fee of $2,350 for violations. "That impound fee is going to be $2,350 which is incredibly substantial," the Chair said, and added the department has been emphasizing education for first offenses.
Bill Chapman, Complete Streets Committee chair, told the committee he has shared local and national media clips and hospital data showing rising e‑bike injuries and fatalities. Chapman cited a National Fatality Analysis Reporting System figure of "154 fatal e‑bike crashes between 2022 and 2023" and said some hospitals saw increasing cases in early 2026. "Parents are often confused about, am I getting my kid an e‑bike or a dirt bike?" Chapman said, arguing that public education must accompany any code change.
Committee members described the common enforcement problem: retailers and aftermarket sellers can mislabel or modify bikes so they look like lower‑power e‑bikes while enabling higher speeds. The Chair said the department has been treating many first offenses as educational (charging a regular $170 impound fee) but is moving toward fuller enforcement for repeat or clear violations.
Members discussed what a local ordinance could—and could not—do under state law. The committee reviewed the three e‑bike classes and possible local rules including mandatory helmet use for certain riders, limiting where e‑bikes may operate, and whether to allow e‑bikes on sidewalks or roads under 30 mph. "We really want to allow e‑bikes on roads that are less than 30," Chapman said, while several members voiced concern about narrow, high‑speed corridors such as Balltown Road and portions of Route 7 where shoulders and curves may pose safety risks.
The group agreed the e‑bike subcommittee will meet with the police chief and lieutenant to refine recommendations and begin drafting ordinance language for town‑board consideration. Committee members also said they will coordinate with neighboring towns and county legislators to try to harmonize rules across municipal boundaries. The Chair said the committee prefers to finalize local language before launching a public education campaign.
Next steps: the subcommittee will convene with police leadership to produce draft language and pursue county coordination; no ordinance vote was taken at the July 14 meeting.
