Several Iowa cities are updating their rules in response to a surge of e-bikes and electric motorcycles on their trails and sidewalks.
Ankeny’s updated ordinance prohibits those vehicles on sidewalks, bike paths and trails, and also limits electric scooters and low-speed e-bikes to 20 miles an hour. Ankeny Police Sergeant Trevor McGraw says the concern is that higher powered vehicles are making rules more difficult to define. “We’ve had some issues with folks not understanding that riding those on the trails; they are a motor vehicle,” he says. McGraw says they’re focusing on informing the public of the changes first before writing tickets.
Other cities like Des Moines are starting with a public information campaign to educate people on safe riding practices for trails and sidewalks. Des Moines currently limits electric bicycles to 750 watts on trails and sidewalks. But there are different kinds on the market now, like electric motorcycles…