Glendale council directs staff to draft e-bike and e-scooter ordinance after lengthy safety debate

Glendale City Council members tasked staff on Aug. 12 to draft an ordinance regulating electric bicycles and electric scooters after a wide-ranging workshop discussion about safety, speed, sidewalks and enforcement.

Deputy City Manager Rick St. John briefed the council on Arizona law and options for local regulation, noting that “electric bicycles are defined by Arizona law as having fully functional pedals and a motor of not more than 750 watts,” and explaining the Class 1–3 e‑bike distinctions and the state definition of electric scooters. He said the city’s parks code (Chapter 27) already bars e‑bikes and e‑scooters in parks but that other uses on sidewalks, bike paths and roadways are not uniformly regulated by local code.

The conversation focused on three practical questions: the minimum age for operation, whether helmets should be required, and where the devices should be allowed to operate (roadway, bike lane, multi‑use path, or sidewalk). St. John summarized options used by other cities including setting a minimum age (Phoenix has set 16), prohibiting sidewalk operation, restricting Class 3 bikes from multi‑use paths, and making ordinance violations civil offenses with a set fine. He recommended the council consider age limits, helmet requirements and limits on sidewalk use.

Council members voiced a range of views. Several members pressed for mandatory helmets and a robust public education period, including school‑based outreach through SROs and a 90‑day education window before formal enforcement. Concerns included devices that can be reprogrammed to exceed legal speeds; visible examples of young riders breaking traffic rules near schools; and safety risks when devices mix with pedestrian traffic on sidewalks. Other members argued sidewalks in some residential areas are preferable to rough local streets and suggested allowing low‑speed devices on sidewalks in 25‑mph or lower residential areas.

After extended discussion, council members gave staff direction to draft ordinance language reflecting the council’s preferences rather than adopting final rules at the workshop. The primary consensus points staff was asked to incorporate in the draft are: a minimum age of 12 for electric scooters and 16 for electric bicycles, helmet requirements, a single‑rider rule unless the device is designed with a designated passenger seat, and a staged education period prior to enforcement (suggested 90 days). Council members also asked staff and the city attorney to return with recommended civil fine amounts and with implementation options for sidewalk rules (for example, tying sidewalk allowance to adjacent speed limit or arterial classification).

St. John told the council staff will work with the city attorney to draft ordinance text and return at a future workshop with recommended fine schedules, enforcement approach and specific language on sidewalks, permitted device classes and equipment requirements (lights for night operation, single‑rider language and passenger restrictions). No ordinance was adopted; the direction given at the workshop is procedural guidance for staff to prepare a formal ordinance and enforcement framework for future council action.

Ending — Next steps: City staff and the city attorney will draft ordinance language incorporating the council’s directions (age thresholds, helmets, single‑rider rule, education period and sidewalk/roadway rules) and present options for fines and enforcement at a follow‑up workshop in coming weeks.