e-Bike Safety
CITY GOVERNMENT
If you are active on social media, you know that there has been a lot of community concern recently about e-bikes and e-motorcycles (aka, e-motos). Community members have voiced concern about safety impacts for riders and pedestrians. The City has heard and is acting on these concerns.
First, to establish background, it is important to agree on terminology. E-motorcycles and e-dirt bikes differ from e-bikes in that the former have an electric motor with a power output that exceeds 750 watts that can propel the vehicle faster than 28 miles per hour. E-motos and e-dirt bikes have foot pegs rather than pedals. E-bikes, by comparison, have operable pedals and a maximum assisted speed of 20mph or 28mph, depending on class.
Within the e-bike category, there are three classes:
Class 1 has a maximum assisted speed of 20 MPH and no throttle.
Class 2 has a maximum assisted speed of 20 MPH and has a throttle.
Class 3 has a maximum assisted speed of 28 MPH and has no throttle.
Most community concern has been about e-motos, including e-motos that appear to be operated by tweens and young teens.
Ordinance No. 25C-24, adopted on September 16, 2025, classifies e-motorcycles, e-dirt bikes, and e-bikes that have been modified to no longer meet definition of an electric-assisted bicycle in RCW 46.04.169 as “electric motorcycles” and they are now subject to the regulations and requirements for operating a motorcycle on a public road or right-of-way. Specifically, code now prohibits:
the operation of an e-motorcycle by any person who does not have a valid driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement.
the operation of any e-motorcycle that does not display a valid license plate.
the operation of e-motorcycles on any sidewalk or pedestrian path, or within public parks.
Violations of this code are civil infractions, subject to the following penalties.
· First offense: $250
· Second offense: $500
· Third and subsequent offenses: $750 and possible referral for criminal citation under RCW 46.20.005: Driving without a license
MIPD also now has the authority to impound an e-motorcycle that is being operated contrary to these provisions.
Staff are also working on new regulations related to e-bike use on Mercer Island and those work items are scheduled to come to the City Council later this year. In particular, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Open Space Conservancy Trust are currently considering changes to the parks code that could limit the operation of e-bikes inside parks and open spaces. (E-motos are already banned per the changes described above.). In evaluating these changes, they will need to consider and balance:
State Laws that require that that Aubrey Davis Park bike paths have the same rules as Seattle and Bellevue paths,
The interests of commuters, students, and others who use bicycles to get to where they need to be,
Safety for pedestrians and bicyclists,
The climate and traffic impacts of bicycles as compared to automobiles, and
The relative dearth of safe bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, and other bicycle infrastructure on Mercer Island.
New code may be approved in draft form by the Parks and Recreation Commission in the next couple of months, which will then go to the Council for revision, rejection, or adoption.
Mercer Island is also working with other cities, the Association of Washington Cities, and the state legislature to evaluate potential changes to State law, perhaps to be considered by the State Legislature during the 2026 session.
If you ever see someone operating a bike (e-bike or human powered), e-moto, scooter, motorcycle, car, truck, or other vehicle in an unsafe matter, please call 911. If you see something, say something. This is at the request of the Mercer Island Police Department.