Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ebikes Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee begins work on e-bike/e-scooter ordinance, staff recommends adopting state statutes into local code
Summary
Staff told the committee July 21 they will draft an e-bike, e-motorcycle and e-scooter ordinance that largely incorporates state statutes and local definitions; committee provided guidance on classes, enforcement limits and next steps to draft and return with language.
City staff told the Public Works and Safety Committee that they are in an early research phase for a potential ordinance governing electric bicycles, off-highway electric motorcycles and electric scooters and recommended the city adopt relevant state statutes into the municipal code while adding local definitions and operational rules.
"We would recommend adopting that entire statute," one staff presenter said of Chapter 23.335 for off-highway motorcycles, and staff also recommended adoption of the statutes that control e-scooters and e-bike definitions so the police would have a clear mechanism to enforce local rules. Staff emphasized the draft would include a definitions section that lists ebikes, the three classes of electric bicycles, motor bicycles, off-highway motorcycles and electric personal assistive mobility devices to make expectations explicit for the public.
Committee members expressed general support for allowing "legal ebikes" (pedal-assist models with motors at or below 750 watts) to use the same space as bicycles and noted enforcement challenges for speed limits and helmet rules. Staff said the draft will be returned for committee review; the presenters proposed a follow-up drafting meeting in early August to produce a complete ordinance for committee and council consideration.
