By admin 
GILBERT, AZ (AZFamily) — Gilbert town leaders voted Tuesday night and passed new e-bike rules that will be enacted immediately.
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The proposal follows a rise in reckless riding across the Valley and two serious e-bike crashes in Gilbert involving teens in less than two weeks.
Gilbert police requested the ordinance, which would create clearer rules for riders and give officers more authority to enforce them.
Reckless riding escalates across the Valley
From a street takeover in Tempe to reckless riding in Queen Creek to a near miss in north Phoenix, the problem has escalated.
“If you’re not aware of what’s going on right now then you’ve either been away on vacation or you’ve been out of the country because I can’t understand how people don’t know this is happening,” said Tom Lauria, a Gilbert resident and father.
Body-worn camera video from Gilbert police shows a chaotic, dangerous scene.
“They run lights. They don’t stop. They just go anywhere they want to go,” said Roger Collett, a Gilbert resident.
What the new ordinance would do
The new changes include banning the sales of Class 3 e-bikes to everyone under 18.
Children will be required to wear helmets while riding.
A 15 mph speed limit will be created for sidewalks, parks and certain paths.
The new laws will also make riding under the influence, fleeing from police and reckless riding a Class 1 misdemeanor.
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Stores will be required to share the laws with customers when they buy an e-bike.
“I love that. I’m a mom of three boys and we talk about it all the time, because we see them doing some crazy things,” said Whitney Crooks, a Gilbert resident.
Enforcement plans
Gilbert police say the new ordinance gives them more freedom to enforce.
They plan to use drones to catch e-bike riders who are breaking the new rules.
Police will work with homeowner associations and conduct targeted enforcement campaigns with officers solely focused on watching for reckless riding.
“This is the start in the right direction, hopefully we can get some kids prevented from being hurt or going to jail, or worse, getting killed,” Lauria said.
The ordinance specifically addresses e-bikes, not e-motorcycles, which are faster and don’t have pedals. Gilbert police say most e-motorcycles are unregistered and therefore already illegal under state law.
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