Colorado community considers new rules for e-bikes, high-powered electric vehicle riders amid safety concerns
City leaders in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, are beginning discussions about possible new regulations for e-bikes and other high-powered electric two-wheelers as concerns grow about safety, particularly among young riders.
As the use of e-bikes and electric motorcycles increases across the Denver metro area, local governments are examining how to regulate where they can operate and who can ride them. Wheat Ridge officials say they are now exploring whether additional local rules are needed.
"We are seeing more and more of all sorts of vehicles that don't necessarily fit neatly into a specific box," said Alex Rose, a spokesperson for the Wheat Ridge Police Department.
Rose said they've heard concerns from residents about speeding and unsafe riding behavior, especially involving children and teenagers.
"They're worried about the speeds of these, the driving behavior, and we're talking about young kids or teenagers who are not necessarily operating these in the safest, most responsible way," Rose said.
At the same time, some riders caution against treating all e-bikes the same.
Simone Caruthers, an 82-year-old cyclist, said pedal-assist e-bikes provide an important transportation and recreation option for older adults.
"For a lot of seniors, we get to ride until we drop dead because we can use an e-bike," Caruthers said.
She said there is a significant difference between pedal-assist e-bikes and throttle-powered vehicles capable of reaching much higher speeds.
"You've got kids out on the street doing wheelies, and they are throttled. They are not pedal-assist. They are dangerous. I don't know what you call them, but they are sold as e-bikes," Caruthers said.
That distinction was a major topic of discussion during a recent meeting among Wheat Ridge city leaders.
"Let's not wait until there's a lot of deaths and a lot of injuries," Councilmember Scott Ohm said.
Council members raised concerns about children operating high-powered electric vehicles and discussed potential regulations including age requirements, lighting standards, speed restrictions and motor power limits. Officials also considered whether parents should be held accountable for violations committed by their children.
"How do we create a clear regulatory framework in which we can enforce what's safe for kids to be on and not on? That's really done by speed and motor power," Councilmember Rachel Hultin said.
Rose said education will likely be a key part of any future regulatory effort and "making sure we have the information about how these are regulated moving forward."
City officials emphasized that the conversation is still in its early stages. There is currently no timeline for when, or if, a city ordinance could be adopted.
