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Many residents in the district have reached out to me expressing concern with safety around E-Bikes and E-Scooters, particularly expressing fears of hitting a child riding in a reckless manner. As I previously mentioned in the Aug. 8 newsletter, I have been pressing the City Attorney and Public Safety Director for an E-Bike Ordinance for months. The City Manager's office provided presentations with robust discussion amongst the Council at both the Aug. 12 and Sep. 9 Council Workshops that included defining the different types of E-Bikes, E-Scooters, descriptions of ordinances already in place in other cities, as well as feedback from residents, council, and city managers. While the approved ordinance is not everything I hoped for, I absolutely believe this is going to save lives and is a great start in the right direction.
It is important to understand the distinctions between the three classes of E-Bikes:
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Class 1 E-Bikes are pedal-assist only and do not come with a throttle. They are limited to a top speed of 20 mph using pedal assist.
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Class 2 E-Bikes have a throttle without the need or use of pedals to operate with the same top speed of 20 mph.
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Class 3 E-Bikes are the fastest of all the E-Bike classes and are pedal-assist with a top speed of up to 28 mph.
It is also important to note that Arizona state law requires E-Bikes to have a permanently affixed label containing the classification number, top assisted speed and motor wattage, and shall be printed in at least nine-point type (Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-819).
While it's imperative to read the City Ordinance in its entirety especially if you or your family members are operating E-Bikes or E-Scooters, there are a few points from the Ordinance that I wanted to highlight below:
Age Requirements
Helmets
- All riders under the age of 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet.
Multiple Riders
- Operators of E-Bikes or E-Scooters cannot carry passengers on E-Bikes or E-Scooters that are not designed for multiple riders.
Other Examples of Riding in an Unsafe Manner
- Riding on a Sidewalk without due caution for pedestrians.
- Intentionally lifting one or more wheels into the air while riding.
- Operating an E-Bike or E-Scooter that has been tampered with or modified to increase the speed capability of the device.
E-Bike and E-Scooter operators are required to obey all traffic and bicycle laws as well as minimum and maximum speed limits when applicable as outlined in the Ordinance. Read the full Ordinance for all examples of riding in an unsafe manner, applicable traffic and bicycle laws, and speed information.
Civil sanctions include a $50, $250, and $500 penalty for a first, second, and third violation respectively. The City is currently preparing a campaign to educate the public on the provisions of the new Ordinance. Additional resources and information for bicyclists and pedestrians can be found on the City web site. Additional Traffic Education Programs can be found here.
My office is always open and ready to assist you. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns that you may have. I value your input and opinion.
Warm Regards,
Lauren Tolmachoff
Glendale City Council, Cholla District
623-930-2247
LTolmachoff@GlendaleAZ.com
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