The rapid rise of e-bikes and electric motorcycles in Gilbert has created new safety concerns, particularly their use among teenagers, Gilbert Police Assistant Chief Michael Angstead said.
“If we were to go out on the roads today, you’d see the use of e-bikes has really surged in recent years,” Angstead said during an Aug. 26 council study session. “These e-bikes in Gilbert have become kind of a rising challenge for us in terms of safety.”
Angstead walked council through classifications of e-bikes — class one, two, and three — and warned that many parents may not realize how different some devices are from ordinary bicycles. While class one and two e-bikes top out at 20 mph, class three models can reach 28 mph and are restricted to riders age 16 and older.
