City of Charlotte may set rules for e-bikes, other motorized rides

CHARLOTTE — The City of Charlotte may set rules for e-bikes and other motorized rides around town.

We’ve likely all seen them on our roads and sidewalks, but right now, there aren’t many regulations on things like e-bikes, hover boards, or personal electric scooters.

City leaders say people have raised concerns about safety, especially riding next to cars on main roads.

“It’s just a matter of time before a young person in particular gets hurt,” Councilwoman Danté Anderson said.

Currently, electric assisted bikes do not require a license, registration or insurance in the City of Charlotte. Currently those who drive one under 16 need to wear a helmet.

Moped drivers don’t need a license, but you must be 16 years old and have a registration and insurance and wear a helmet.

To guide Charlotte’s possible regulations, the city’s Safety Committee is looking at other cities across the country and local towns to see what requirements they have in place.

Cornelius and Davidson are two local towns that have implemented requirements for e-bikes.

In those towns helmets are required for minors, e-bikes must be equipped with a brake, and lamps are required at night. Riders in those towns also cannot ride e-bikes on sidewalks unless they are under 17 or an adult accompanying a minor.

In a presentation to Charlotte’s Safety Committee Monday, e-bikes with speeds exceeding 20 miles per hour are deemed mopeds in Cornelius and Davidson. Those that go faster than 30 miles per hour are considered motorcycles.

The committee in Charlotte is also looking to include regulations on things like hoverboards, electric scooters, and unicycles.

“Certainly we want people to be active, be mobile, be outside,” Councilmember Anderson siad. “But be protective if you’re riding them in the roadway and have some restrictions around how fast someone can go.

The committee plans to looks at things like where electric bikes and other hobby-rides can be driven, how fast they can go, and protection protocols for minors driving them.

“I have a real concern over enforcement,” said Councilman Ed Driggs. “I don’t see officers chasing after somebody on an e-bike.”

However, Driggs said he does have concern with the various dangers that come with youth traveling using different electric modes of transportation like e-bikes and scooters.

Anderson said the topic will likely come up one or two more times before being voted on for a recommendation to the full council.