St. Joseph City Commissioners are looking to create an ordinance to govern the use of e-bikes on sidewalks and pedestrian paths.
At their previous meeting and while discussing the 2028 reconstruction of Upton Drive from Momany Drive to the northern city limits, commissioners instructed staff to look into the issue of e-bikes so they could decide on what amenities the road should get for pedestrians.
At this past week’s regular meeting, City Manager Emily Hackworth reported back with a summary of state rules for e-bikes and recommendations for how the city should proceed. Staff are recommending that recreational electric mobility devices be banned on the sidewalks in the D downtown district, that Class One and Two e-bikes be allowed on streets, sidewalks, and non-motorized paths, and the Class Three e-bikes — the fastest e-bikes — only be allowed on-street. This does not include wheelchairs.
Commissioner Michael Fernandez told us the proposal is a reasonable compromise.
“We just have to respond to it, and I think we did a really nice job of the policy that staff is kind of starting to draft up for us is it treats them like a bike,” Fernandez said. “Just treat it like a smart bike. The behavior is the same. It’s someone moving around, enjoying themselves, and the intent is not to restrict and keep people from doing new things. It’s just to share the sidewalks, share the non-motorized paths, enjoy yourself safely, and not at other people’s expense.”
Class One and Two e-bikes can go up to 20 miles per hour, while Class Three go as high as 28 miles per hour. The difference between Class One and Two has to do with whether they power on when the user is pedaling. All e-bikes are required to be marked with their class rating.
Mayor Brook Thomas told us starting out with a simple ordinance like this is proper.
“I think it’s a really good starting point,” Thomas said. “When I go to meetings around the county and hear feedback from other communities, we’re all dealing with this issue, statewide even. So I think what we’re going to have to do is just start somewhere, see how it works, see what issues we have in the community, and then if we need to tweak it down the road, we will.”
Staff also recommended that all electric mobility devices be banned on non-paved or natural surface trails, that riders have a means of alerting pedestrians when approaching, and that the city carry out a public awareness campaign about the rules. Hackworth told us the goal here is to protect all users of sidewalks and pathways.
“What we’re looking at is finding the right balance to make sure that we’re encouraging safety, which means that we are ensuring that the fastest e-bikes stay on the road, but that folks who are going slower and biking for recreation are also able to enjoy our amenities, including our non-motorized paths,” Hackworth said.
Commissioners took no vote on the matter but instructed Hackworth to proceed with drafting an ordinance for them to consider later. Public Safety Director Steve Neubecker said enforcement will be a bit tricky, but his department will do what it can.
Also this week, commissioners voted to install a ten-foot pedestrian path along Upton Drive as part of the 2028 construction, rather than a bike lane and a sidewalk.
The full recommendations on e-bikes from city staff:
Based on the models established by the State and by other municipalities, and based on St. Joseph’s needs, staff recommends the following:
Ban all Electric Mobility Devices on sidewalks in the D-district, consistent with the existing ban on other recreational mobility devices in the downtown business district.
Allow Class 1 e-bikes on streets, sidewalks, and non-motorized paths, along with all other Electric Mobility Devices.
Allow Class 2 e-bikes on streets, sidewalks, and non-motorized paths.
Restrict Class 3 e-bikes from being used on sidewalks and non-motorized paths; allow Class 3 e-bikes on streets only.
Prohibit the use of all Electric Mobility Devices on non-paved or natural surface trails within City jurisdiction.
Require all users to have a method for notifying other path users of their approach.
Require all users under 18 to wear a helmet.
Explore an appropriate speed limit and mechanisms for enforcement.
Ensure compliance with all relevant ADA requirements.
Ensure that the City carries out a robust public education campaign informing the public about the new requirements and best practices for safety.
