By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice on September 3, 2026
Commissioners hear presentation from Police Chief Hale
By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice
Following a presentation from Police Chief Perry Hale, the Nags Head Commissioners decided they were not ready to amend the town’s E-Bike ordinance at their Sept. 2 meeting.
“I’d like to chew on this more,” said Mayor Ben Cahoon, who described the decision as a “quandary.” In his remarks, Hale had suggested that the town “do away with E-Bikes on the multi-use path on NC 12.”
The Sept. 2 discussion followed the NC Legislature’s recent passage of HB 1094, which defines three classes of E-Bikes and gives municipalities the ability to regulate E-Bikes “on any multi-use path or sidewalk within municipal limits.” Its provisions will go into effect on Dec. 1, 2026.
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. an effort to amend the Nags Head ordinance failed.
During the Sept. 2 meeting, Hale addressed safety issues related to E-Bikes on the NC-12 multi-use path, particularly given the “number of driveways that connect to the multi-use path.” He added that “there have been some collisions” involving E-Bikes, but noted that “we’ve had more near misses.”
Hale also explained that the Nags Head Police cannot monitor E-Bike speeds on the multi-use paths, stating that “whatever decision we make, we’re not going to catch them [violators] all.”
“You’re weighing public safety against people who are riding their bikes responsibly,” said Commissioner Bob Sanders, as the commissioners indicated they needed more time and feedback before making any changes to the ordinance.
The meeting comes as Dare County itself has taken some measures to restrict E-Bike use. In April, the county prohibited the operation of E-Bikes at Dare County Parks & Rec parks. In June, the Dare County Board of Education approved a policy barring the operation of E-Bikes on school property or at school-related activities.
But Hale told the commissioners that as of now, none of the Dare municipalities have taken action to amend their E-Bike regulations, adding that they “were waiting to see what came down from the legislature.”
