Around NWAFriday, November 6
Fayetteville bans e-motorcycles and other high-speed electric vehicles from sidewalks and trails
The Daily Bentonville team
If you walk, run or ride the trails up the road in Fayetteville, the rules just changed. The city council voted unanimously Thursday to bar electric motorcycles and other high-speed electric vehicles from sidewalks and trails. It passed with an emergency clause, so it takes effect immediately.
Mayor Molly Rawn and council member Sarah Bunch introduced the ordinance at an agenda session Oct. 27. Rawn cited recent accidents, including some involving children and young teens.
The ordinance draws its lines at watts, speed and age
- 750 watts
- or more of continuous motor output is one test
- 28 mph
- or more in throttle mode is another
- 16
- is the youngest age allowed to ride on city streets
- 21
- is the age under which riders must wear a helmet
Sources: KNWA FOX24, KHBS
- Barred: sidewalks and trails, including the Razorback Greenway
- Allowed: roads, under the same laws as cars
- Not covered: pedal-assist e-bikes under 750 watts
“They are much more similar to a regular gas-powered motorcycle, and that's how they need to be treated and regulated.”
Council member Sarah Moore told KNWA/FOX24 she thinks state law "hasn't quite caught up" on these vehicles. She also said the city has to work harder to communicate and set expectations.
Any one of four tests makes a vehicle high-speed under the ordinance
| Test | What counts |
|---|---|
| Motor output | Continuous rating of 750 watts or more |
| Speed | Throttle mode can reach 28 mph or more |
| Build | Foot pegs, or needs a pedal-conversion kit |
| Tampering | Modified to boost output or speed |
Source: KNWA FOX24
Sources: KNWA FOX24, KHBS