SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — Cities across the Valley have begun creating new rules for e-bikes and scooters, and now a new petition is pushing for stricter rules in Scottsdale.
The petition calls for banning anyone under 16 years old from using e-bikes and scooters in Scottsdale. The proposal would expand the city’s existing rules, which already restrict younger riders from using certain high-speed e-bikes.
But parents behind the effort say current regulations are not enough. They say dangerous close calls involving kids on e-bikes and scooters are still happening every day at parks, pathways and schools across the city.
Girl Scout incident sparks petition
Rachel Swartz launched the online petition after witnessing an incident she said happened in slow motion.
“One of the girls in our troop, a six-year-old girl, got run over by a nine-year-old boy on his e-scooter,” Swartz said.
The incident happened during a Girl Scout meeting at a Scottsdale park. Swartz said the young rider had no helmet on, and another child was riding on the back of the scooter.
The moment pushed Swartz to take action. She is now asking Scottsdale leaders and Scottsdale Unified School District to ban children under 16 from riding e-bikes and e-scooters.
“The parents are just tired of seeing the kids get hurt,” Swartz said.
What current rules allow
Under current city rules, Scottsdale bans riders under 16 from operating higher-speed Class 3 e-bikes on city property. But lower-speed e-bikes and scooters are still allowed on many sidewalks, pathways and bike lanes throughout the city.
Swartz said that is where the problem lies. Parents are seeing children ride too fast in crowded areas near parks and schools.
“The speed that these motorized vehicles go is just not safe for kids under 16,” she said.
Petition seeks Phoenix-style restrictions
Swartz said the petition is not about banning e-bikes completely. Instead, she wants stricter rules aimed at keeping younger children off high-speed electric devices.
“I would hate for a fatal injury to happen to get parents to wake up to see that these are not safe for their own children,” she said.
Swartz said she plans to bring the petition to the Scottsdale City Council. Supporters are pushing for Scottsdale to adopt rules similar to Phoenix, where riders must be at least 16 years old to operate any e-bike or e-scooter.
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