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Electric Bicycle Safety Rules

At a glance

  • What: Ordinance No. 2026-570, rules for electric bicycles.

  • Where it stands: passed 19-0 on 2026-09-22 as substituted by the Neighborhoods committee.

  • Provisions: 15 mph limit on sidewalks and shared paths, yield to pedestrians, audible warning before passing, helmets for riders and passengers under 16, lights after dark, limits on modifications, and retailer safety information with a QR code.

  • 2026-10-20 update (Finance): the committee passed 2026-0755 8-0, allowing district funds (45,000 dollars per member) to pay for e-bike speed limit signs, which Boylan said cost roughly 50 to 75 dollars each; funds cannot be shared across districts without new legislation.

  • 2026-10-19 (Rules): Boylan handed out a list of balances in members' discretionary traffic calming funds and reminded the committee that 2026-0755, which is before other committees, lets members use them for e-bike sidewalk speed limit signs.

  • Official minutes (2026-10-20, Finance): 2026-0755 (introduced by Boylan, co-sponsor Clark-Murray) amended to also cite Ordinance 2025-186-E and approved 8-0; it adds sidewalk and shared-use-path e-bike speed limit signs as an authorized use of Traffic Calming - Citywide funds (Ordinance 2023-504-E Section 11.13), at each district member's discretion.

  • Official minutes (2026-10-20, TEU): 2026-0755 amended (explained by Linsky, approved unanimously) and approved 6-0 (Amaro, Arias, Carlucci, Gaffney, Peluso, Holder); Pittman excused.

  • Official minutes (2026-10-19, NCSPHS): 2026-0755 amended (explained by Reber) and approved 7-0; Clark-Murray, co-sponsor with Boylan.

  • Official minutes (2026-10-13, City Council): 2026-0755 public hearing; read second time and re-referred.

  • Official minutes (2026-09-22, City Council): Ordinance 2026-570 (as substituted by the Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee) passed 19-0. The signs funding bill 2026-0755 was introduced the same night.

Notes

  • Sponsor Boylan dropped an age element, added the retailer requirement, and let district councilmembers use their Safe Streets funds (45,000 dollars each) for speed signs; the plan relies on 26 signs at city entryways.
  • Lahnen and Salem opposed it in committee and voted yes on 2026-09-22 while worrying about enforcement. A school board member spoke in her own capacity in support and said the district would add e-bike education.

Sources

Discussion time

About 15 minutes across 5 meetings (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting Minutes
2026-10-20 - Transportation, Energy & Utilities 1
2026-10-20 - Finance 2
2026-10-19 - Rules Committee 1
2026-10-19 - NCSPHS 1
2026-09-22 - City Council 10

Log

2026-10-20 - Transportation, Energy & Utilities

TEU adopted an amendment covering funds under Ordinance 2025-186 and passed 2026-0755 6-0 as amended.

Minutes: 2026-0755 amended and approved 6-0.

2026-10-20 - Finance

Finance Committee passed 2026-0755 8-0, letting district safe streets funds pay for e-bike speed limit signs.

Minutes: 2026-0755 amended and approved 8-0.

2026-10-19 - Rules Committee

Boylan distributed discretionary fund balances and described 2026-0755 (not on this committee's agenda).

2026-10-19 - NCSPHS

Neighborhoods committee passed 2026-0755 7-0 as amended (reference to Ordinance 2025-186); Miller praised Boylan's approach and Clark-Murray became a co-sponsor.

Minutes: 2026-0755 amended and approved 7-0.

2026-10-13 - City Council

Minutes: public hearing; read second time and re-referred.

2026-09-22 - City Council

Ordinance 2026-570 passed 19-0 after praise for Boylan's work.

Minutes: 2026-570 passed 19-0 as substituted.