Riding an e-bike or e-scooter in Las Vegas? Here are the rules
In lockstep with a similar Clark County ordinance, Las Vegas will begin regulating the use of electric bicycles and scooters at city parks, recreational facilities and public plazas.
The City Council on Wednesday approved the rules proposed by Councilwoman Nancy Brune.
The law defines electric vehicles, sets a speed limit of 15 mph at city-operated facilities, requires helmets for minors and bars “wheelies, stunts and reckless behavior,” explained Deputy City Attorney Gillian Block Segerblom.
E-bikes and e-scooters will not be allowed on sidewalks on Fremont Street between Main and Seventh streets in downtown Las Vegas, she said.
Lamps, reflectors and bells or other devices “capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least 100 feet” will be required on the vehicles, according to the ordinance.
City marshals and Metropolitan Police Department officers will be tasked with enforcement.
The city law was based on the county’s ordinance to avoid jurisdictional confusion, officials said.
Las Vegas misdemeanor civil penalties were set at $150 for a first offense, $300 for a second violation and fines of $500 for subsequent infractions, the new ordinance notes.
The law goes into effect Oct. 1, according to city officials.
“I think this bill is great,” said Councilman Brian Knudsen at a Recommending Committee meeting last month. “I love this bill.”
Las Vegas Department of Public Safety Chief Jason Potts said the marshals support the law.
“With e-bikes and e-scooters, there’s a safety consideration,” he said. “These bike and scooters go pretty fast and cause issues in our parks; not to mention, there’s potential for damage of our grass in our parks.”
Clark County passed its set of rules in May after safety concerns were raised about a string of injuries and fatalities involving the bikes and scooters.
A man, for example, became the 100th traffic fatality in Metro’s jurisdiction this year after crashing his electric-powered bicycle Saturday in an east Las Vegas neighborhood, according to police.
The city of Henderson also passed an ordinance last year that regulates the use of e-bikes in parks and on trails.
Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com.