Pedestrians have priority: Holly Springs cracking down on e-bikes

The Holly Springs Town Council on Tuesday unanimously passed an ordinance regulating the use of e-bikes and similar modes of transportation. 

The ordinance covers e-bikes, e-motos and other electric personal travel devices. It emphasizes that  pedestrians have the right of way on sidewalks, side paths and greenways and that riders of electric powered devices must alert others when they plan to pass.

The town follows a common standard that defines an e-bike as having less than 1 horsepower or 750 watts, with a maximum travel speed of 20 mph. Anything more powerful, according to the ordinance, is a mo-ped or motorcycle.

"We want everybody to be able to enjoy these. They're neat products. But we've gotta be able to do that safely," Holly Springs Deputy Chief of Police Jay Bruner explained.

The ordinance imposes fines for repeated violations of statues and town ordinances and allows officers to impound e-bikes and e-motos that are being used in ways that violate the law.

Legal definitions

• e-bike: no minimum age or license requirement. Power assists pedaling at speeds up to 20 mph 
• personal conveynace vehicle: scooters, skateboards, hoverboards that have electric motor and can go up to 20 mph
• moped: drivers must be 16 or up and must register and have insurance. Speeds between 20 and 30 mph
• motorcycle: must be driven by a licensed and insured operator  

In Holly Springs, mopeds and motorcycles are not allowed on greenways, side paths and park property; e-bikes are, but they can not be operated at speeds over 15 mph.  

The ordinance is expected to take effect on June 1. 

Town staff members are currently developing an online parent resource guide, a social media campaign and in-person information sessions to help families understand the law.

Holly Springs police officers are meeting with teens at local high schools to get their ideas on how to educate riders about the dangers of using e-bikes recklessly.

"I got a lot of great feedback from them. They were a very engaged group. One of the main things was 'Hey, high school may not the place be where you want to target this, but our brothers and sisters are, and they’re in middle school.' And that really helped us focus in on our cohort," said Bruner.

The council noted that the town's emergency communications center has been receiving a number of calls about e-motos, and police have witnessed pre-teens and teens driving unregistered e-motos and performing stunts, including wheelies and impeding traffic.

In one incident, the passenger fell off the bike and into the roadway.

There have been at least two reported collisions between an e-bike or e-moto and another vehicle in the town.