Police report flags rise in pedestrian serious-injury crashes, urges e-bike clarity and targeted enforcement

The Green Bay police department told the traffic committee that pedestrian-involved serious-injury crashes have risen year over year and that officers are focusing enforcement and patrol resources on high-crash corridors.

A department representative identified as Sergeant Howell reported roughly 18 serious-injury crashes over the prior quarter and said the department has not recorded fatalities in the same period but is seeing an uptick in pedestrian incidents. "We're statewide seeing more pedestrian crashes and fatalities... quite a bit actually," Sergeant Howell said.

Sergeant Howell also outlined the state's three-part test for e-bike classification — functioning pedals, a 28-mph maximum and a 750-watt power cap — and said many commercially marketed devices do not fit neatly into existing categories. "If it doesn't meet all three of those, then it's either a moped, motorcycle, or just a motor vehicle," he said, adding that classification affects whether a device may be ridden on sidewalks and how it is handled in court.

Why it matters: Misclassified or high-powered e-bikes pose enforcement and safety challenges on neighborhood streets and trails; the department recommended continued state-level guidance and local education for riders and merchants. The committee received the report and placed it on file.

The department also reported ongoing speed-enforcement efforts in identified hotspots such as East Shore Drive and said it is prioritizing patrol and photographic enforcement in areas with higher crash predictions. The report noted staffing levels and an intent to increase dedicated traffic enforcement as training completes.

Next steps: Police will continue targeted enforcement and education on e-bike classification and high-crash corridors and will update the committee at future meetings.