BAY HEAD — The mayor and council adopted an ordinance setting tougher new rules for operating electric bikes, or e-bikes, and similar vehicles, at their meeting held Monday, Dec. 1.
The measure, which amends the town’s existing e-bike ordinance, includes definitions of what constitutes an “e-bike,” and it increases the number of regulations operators of such vehicles must follow. The ordinance also will severely increase the penalties for violating the regulations.
“One problem is the state is not making hard and fast rules on this,” Mayor Bill Curtis said.
Legal and Planning Chairperson Jennifer Barnes-Gambert said that when it comes to e-bike regulation on a state-wide scale, “there is a bill pending, but it’s really just about registering these types of vehicles, not really so much regulating the actual use of (them).” She also said that she suspects there will be further state-wide legislation in 2026, but in the meantime “if the state doesn’t act, then we will.”
The new rules operators must follow are:
Operators must follow all official traffic rules, signs, and regulations.
Operators must ride as close as possible to the right side of the roadway.
Operators must stop at all stop signs and red lights.
Operators cannot hold a cell phone “or any other object” in their hand while they operate these vehicles.
Operators must use hand signals prior to making a turn.
Groups of two or more operators must ride in single file.
Those under 15 years of age who are caught operating one of these vehicles will have their vehicle confiscated by the police.
Operators must adhere to a 20 mph speed limit.
Operators may not ride such vehicles on sidewalks, walkways or pedestrian paths
In addition to tightening up the rules, the ordinance also “significantly increases the penalty for violation,” Barnes-Gambert said. Penalty for a first offense is $250, a second offense is $500 and the third is $1,000.
After the adoption of the ordinance, one resident shared a story of a near collision, saying that they “almost hit someone who was riding with another person on the back of (the e-bike)” on their way to work.
“Part of the ordinance now is to reinforce to the operators of these vehicles that you are required to follow all laws of traffic, and if you don’t, there are consequences,” Barnes-Gambert said.
“The pure goal of the ordinance is for safety,” Curtis said. “It’s not just kids, it’s adults too, they’re disobeying road signs, riding on sidewalks, they don’t make noise like a motorcycle and drivers can’t hear them.”
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