Proposed e-bike legislation could give NC cities more control amid safety concerns

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — Changes could soon be coming for e-bike riders in North Carolina as new state legislation aims to give municipalities more authority to regulate their use.

Two bills introduced last week — Senate Bill 970 and House Bill 1084 — would establish three classes of e-bikes and allow local governments to restrict certain types on specific paths and roadways. Currently, municipalities have limited authority to regulate e-bikes.

The proposed legislation would replace the state’s single definition of e-bikes, which is based on wattage and speed, with a three-tier classification system. Class 1 e-bikes provide assistance only while a rider is pedaling and stop assisting at 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes can provide assistance whether or not the rider is pedaling, also up to 20 mph. Class 3 e-bikes assist only while pedaling and can reach speeds of up to 28 mph.

Belal Elrahal, an assistant professor of public law and government at the UNC School of Government, said the classification system would give municipalities more flexibility in crafting local regulations.

“What it provides for is for the community to be able to work with their local city council or county commission to really craft what they want those regulations to be in their community, because it’s not going to be one-size-fits-all,” Elrahal said.

The city of Wilmington said it is monitoring the proposed legislation as part of ongoing efforts to improve roadway safety. The city has adopted a Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate all traffic-related fatalities by 2036.

In a statement, a city spokesperson said, “As e-bike use continues to rise — and with a few e-bike-related fatalities in our area recently — these measures come at a critical time, addressing higher speeds and emerging risks with sensible safety measures like helmet use.”

Concerns about safety have grown following recent incidents involving e-bikes. Craig Wies said he recently had a close call when two teenagers on an e-bike cut in front of his vehicle.

“I had a pretty close call at this intersection while on my vehicle…which is also on two wheels,” Wies said. “I’m glad that they are well today and alive and I don’t know if they understood what could have happened to them.”

His experience comes weeks after a deadly crash on Carolina Beach Road, where a 24-year-old e-bike rider was struck by a truck while attempting to turn left onto a service road.

Wies said he hopes the proposed legislation will address what he sees as reckless behavior among some riders.

“They are traveling practically the same amount of speed as a regular vehicle that has to pay insurance, has to have the liability, has to have the license plate, have to wear a helmet,” he said.

The proposed bills would also require anyone under 18 to wear a helmet when riding a Class 3 e-bike.