By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice on August 29, 2026
By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice
(iStock)
At their Sept. 2 meeting, the Nags Head Commissioners will hear a presentation from Police Chief Perry Hale as part of a discussion over possibly changing the Town’s E-Bike ordinance—particularly in regard to their use on beach road multi-use paths and sidewalks.
The conversation comes in the wake of the NC Legislature’s passage of HB 1094, which defines three classes of E-Bikes and gives local municipalities the ability to regulate E-Bikes “on any multi-use path or sidewalk within municipal limits.”
The current Nags Head ordinance makes it unlawful to operate an E-Bike “on any multi-use pedestrian path, sidewalk, street, or other public area recklessly or at a speed faster than is reasonably proper, or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of the rider or of any other person.”
Back in 2023, the Nags Head Commissioners discussed amending its E-Bike regulations after then-Commissioner Renee Cahoon expressed safety concerns about the multi-use paths on the beach road. But after several other commissioners expressed mixed feelings about new regulations, the proposal failed. The Outer Banks Voice – Proposal to restrict e-bikes fails in Nags Head
In recent months, there have been efforts to more tightly regulate the operation of E-Bikes in Dare County. On June 23, the Dare County Board of Education approved a policy that prohibits the operation of E-Bikes on school property or at school-related activities. That followed an April decision by the county to prohibit the operation of E-Bikes at Dare County Parks & Rec parks.
Also in June, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office announced that it was “increasing patrol presence to monitor E-Bike use to ensure safety for everyone.” The Outer Banks Voice – Dare Ed Board approves policy prohibiting E-Bike use on school property
That month, the Voice talked to officials in all six Dare County municipalities about their E-Bike regulations. Officials in four of them indicated they were looking at the state legislature for guidance on local regulations.
Also on the September 2 meeting agenda: Flock cameras on agenda at Dare and Nags Head Commissioners meetings next week
