SUNBURY — Sunbury City Council finally got its e-bike legislation across the finish line Oct. 7, approving a comprehensive set of rules after months of debate, delays and revisions.
The regulations establish where residents can ride electric bicycles and other motorized devices, along with helmet requirements and restrictions intended to address their growing popularity.
Under the city’s published guidelines, Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes are permitted on roadways, subject to traffic laws. Riders can also use sidewalks and shared-use paths, but only with their motors disengaged.
Helmet requirements vary by age and e-bike classification.
Mayor Joe St. John said Sunbury isn’t alone in trying to navigate the increasingly popular technology.
“I think a lot of communities are dealing with this, I saw Worthington has been in kind of a table, un-table state right now,” St. John said. “We’re all trying to get it right, I think the state is a little bit behind here.”
Council President John Grumney echoed St. John’s thoughts, but reassured residents the newly-passed ordinance is not meant to take away from safe e-bike fun.
“This is to protect residents and kids, not to take away any type of fun or anything like that,” Grumney said. “This is strictly an ordinance to keep the community in an environment that’s safe and fun for everyone.”
What riders need to know
The city also released a six-page guide explaining the new ordinance. The chart below breaks down where different types of e-bikes and other motorized devices are permitted, along with helmet requirements and other restrictions.
The city also has a page on its website called “E-bikes in Sunbury” that provides additional information on the three different e-bike classes.
One notable restriction concerns electric dirt bikes and other high-powered devices that do not meet the legal classifications for conventional e-bikes.
Those vehicles are not authorized on sidewalks or shared-use paths, and their use on roadways depends on whether they meet applicable licensing, registration and equipment requirements.
These types of e-bikes have been giving local municipalities and the state the most trouble in terms of classification.
“They aren’t motorcycles, and they aren’t bikes — what do we do with them?” Breakaway Cycling owner Dan Negley previously told Delaware Source.
But as e-bike technology continues to advance, so will the rules around them.
St. John acknowledged he expects council to revisit the ordinance as officials learn how the regulations work in practice and as electric vehicle technology continues to evolve.
“I know we’re going to learn things throughout this process and this ordinance can be modified, and most likely will be modified, over time with lessons learned and as the technology and vehicles people ride change over time,” St. John said.
