Gilbert has adopted one of the Valley's most comprehensive e-bike regulations, approving new rules that establish age restrictions, helmet requirements, speed limits and enforcement tools aimed at addressing growing safety concerns involving electric bicycles and similar devices.
Gilbert Town Council unanimously approved the ordinance June 9, immediately putting the new regulations into effect.
The ordinance replaces existing sections of the town code governing bicycles, micromobility devices and motorized play vehicles with a new article covering bicycles, electric bicycles and other transportation devices.
Town officials said the changes are intended to better align Gilbert's code with Arizona law while addressing concerns raised by residents about crashes, reckless riding and increasingly common e-bike activity throughout the community.
Assistant Police Chief Michael Angstead told council members the ordinance applies not only to e-bikes but also to electric scooters, motorized skateboards and several other transportation devices.
Among the most significant changes are new age restrictions. Riders must be at least 12 years old to operate Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes and similar devices. Riders must be at least 16 years old to operate faster Class 3 e-bikes, which can reach speeds of up to 28 mph with motor assistance.
"Currently right now there is no age restriction, so theoretically a 4-year-old could ride a Class 1 e-bike," Angstead said. "So this is an effort to create a restriction."
The ordinance also establishes a 15 mph speed limit on sidewalks, multiuse paths and within town parks. Riders must additionally travel at a reasonable and prudent speed based on conditions and potential hazards.
A new helmet requirement mandates that riders and passengers younger than 18 wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet. The rule applies to bicycles as well as e-bikes and electric scooters.
The ordinance creates new penalties for reckless riding, operating transportation devices while impaired and fleeing from law enforcement officers.
Angstead said police have encountered riders modifying e-bikes to exceed their factory speed limits.
"The kids have figured out how to hack what would be a Class 3 e-bike to make it go 50 miles an hour," he said.
The ordinance also places responsibilities on parents and guardians, prohibiting them from knowingly allowing minors to violate the regulations.
Businesses selling or renting transportation devices covered in the ordinance must provide customers information about Gilbert's rules. The code also prohibits the sale of Class 3 e-bikes to anyone younger than 18.
In addition to enforcement measures, the ordinance establishes a Gilbert transportation device safety program. Eligible violators may complete the educational program instead of paying a civil fine. Minors must attend with a parent or guardian.
"The entire intent of this portion of the ordinance is just to provide a mechanism for education," Angstead said. "What we want is just safety."
The ordinance follows months of discussion by town officials after rising concerns about organized e-bike and electric motorcycle ride-outs, youth crashes and reckless riding.
Town data presented to council showed juvenile bicycle collisions involving vehicles increased from 20 in 2022 to 55 in 2025, while adult collisions rose from 30 to 44 during the same period.
Resident speakers urged council members to adopt the regulations, citing concerns about groups of riders congregating near businesses and operating unsafely on streets, sidewalks and trails.
Councilmember Yung Koprowski said the ordinance reflects the realities of a growing community with busier roads and pathways.
"The reality is that Gilbert today is very different than it was 20 years ago," Koprowski said. "Our streets and pathways and intersections carry more people, more vehicles and more activity than ever before."
She said the new rules would help parents reinforce safe behavior.
"It's not just our family rules, it's the law," Koprowski said, noting how the helmet requirement could support conversations between parents and children. "This is something you should do."
Councilmember Bobbi Buchli also requested a six-month update on the ordinance's effectiveness and enforcement.
Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines. Tom Blodgett can be reached by email at tblodgett@iniusa.org or follow him on X at @sp_blodgett.
Meet Tom Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.
Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.
Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism.
Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.
Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).
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