PHOENIX — Teens on the fastest e-bikes will face new limits in unincorporated Maricopa County, according to a release from Maricopa County.
The county Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance on Wednesday, Nov. 4, setting rules for electric bicycles. The county said it applies only to unincorporated areas, not to cities and towns.
“Electric bikes are an increasingly popular way to get from one place to another, but they require unique considerations to ensure safety,” Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee, who represents District 3, said in the release.
The county said the ordinance was drafted with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
It sorts e-bikes into three classes. Class 1 bikes are pedal-assist up to 20 mph. Class 2 bikes use a throttle and top out at 20 mph. Class 3 bikes are pedal-assist up to 28 mph.
Riders younger than 16 are limited to Class 1 and Class 2 bikes, according to the county. Class 3 riders must be at least 16, and riders under 18 on those bikes must wear a helmet.
The county said its regional parks are not covered by the ordinance.
The measure is listed as Ordinance P-38. The full text is posted at maricopa.gov/7990.
ABC15 also reported on the vote, noting the rules are aimed at safety as e-bikes become more common across the Valley.
Sources: Maricopa County news release, ABC15. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Syced / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
