The Buckeye City Council voted last week to table a proposed ordinance regulating e-bikes, e-scooters and electric motorcycles after residents, business owners and council members called for additional public comment and collaboration.
During a lengthy presentation to council, Buckeye Police Chief Bob Sanders said the proposed ordinance was designed primarily to improve safety and reduce injuries among children, not to overregulate micromobility devices.
“We’re not here to overregulate the use of e-bikes or e-scooters,” Sanders said. “What we want to do is reduce injuries.”
The ordinance would have established rules for electric bicycles, scooters and similar devices capable of traveling more than 10 miles per hour. Proposed regulations included helmet requirements for riders under 18, restrictions on where certain classes of e-bikes could operate, educational requirements for retailers and escalating penalties for violations.
Sanders said Buckeye has already seen a growing number of incidents involving children riding e-bikes without adult supervision.
“We’re already on pace to match and exceed last year’s injuries,” he said, noting that many of the incidents involved minors.
According to Sanders, national pediatric injuries related to e-bikes and e-scooters have tripled in recent years, while Arizona e-scooter injuries have doubled since 2024.
The proposal outlined a phased approach focused first on education and awareness campaigns through schools, social media and retailers before targeted enforcement would begin later this year.
“We do not want to issue citations to kids. We do not want to issue citations to parents,” Sanders said. “That’s not our outcome.”
The ordinance would have allowed Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on sidewalks, bike lanes and city parks while prohibiting Class 3 e-bikes from sidewalks and parks. Riders would also be required to yield to pedestrians, use lights and reflectors at night and maintain safe speeds.
Penalties proposed in the ordinance included a $100 fine for a first violation, $250 for a second offense and up to $500 plus possible impoundment for repeated violations within a 12-month period.
Sanders said the city also sought to involve retailers by requiring stores to provide educational materials or QR codes explaining safety rules and city regulations.
The discussion drew comments from community members both supporting and questioning the ordinance.
Corey Raftery, representing the Verrado Community Association, spoke in support of the city’s efforts, praising officials for taking a balanced approach.
“We recognize a lot of good that e-bikes bring to the community,” Raftery said. “They help families and friends connect outdoors.”
Raftery said local organizations would be willing to partner with the city on education campaigns, bike rodeos and other outreach efforts.
However, Patrick Gillooly, co-owner of Thrive's Swim and Ride Shop, argued that local bike retailers were not adequately included in earlier discussions about the ordinance.
“We felt like we had a lot to contribute to this conversation,” Gillooly told council members.
Gillooly said many children use e-bikes as transportation to school, stores and friends’ homes rather than simply for recreation. He warned against what he described as “regulation and enforcement of childhood.”
“There’s a lot more that we can do in terms of education before we move to regulation,” he said.
Councilmember Steve Youngker also expressed concern about making it more difficult for children to participate in outdoor activities.
“I am cautious about trying to regulate something of this nature to make it harder for kids to get out in the world and be part of a community,” Youngker said.
Vice Mayor Clay Goodman said rider safety remained the council’s top priority but acknowledged concerns about stakeholder involvement in drafting the ordinance.
Goodman publicly apologized after previously assuming local bike shop owners had been consulted during development of the proposal.
“Words matter and words are important,” Goodman said. “There’s a difference between what I know to be true and what I assume to be true.”
Goodman then motioned to table the ordinance to allow additional research, stakeholder outreach and revisions focused on education, training and safety.
The motion passed following a unanimous vote by council members present.
City officials indicated the ordinance will return for future discussion after additional community engagement takes place.
