Revised August 27, 2024
Hoping to feel some relief from the high speed bicycles on trails, sidewalks and streets? View these updates*, and draw your own conclusion.
*Note: The Fox9 article says Shorewood is working on regulation. This has not been discussed publicly by the council. Let them know your position.
1. Best Contact Option: Attend and /or speak up at City Council meetings
2. Contact City Council Members
- Dustin Maddy (612) 293-6727 dmaddy@ci.shorewood.mn.us
- Jennifer Labadie (952) 836-8719 jlabadie@ci.shorewood.mn.us
- Scott Zerby (952) 905-4444 szerby@ci.shorewood.mn.us
- Guy Sanschagrin (952) 217-1289 gsanschagrin@ci.shorewood.mn.us
- Paula Callies (763) 546-8020 pcallies@ci.shorewood.mn.us
3.Contact City Administration: Marc Nevinski (952) 960-7905 mnevinski@ci.shorewood.mn.us
Excelsior passed an emergency ordinance, effective June 13th, 2024 that states: “Any person under the age of 18 operating or riding upon an electric-assisted bicycle shall wear a helmet or other protective headgear approved for bicycle riding by the United States Department of Transportation or American National Standards Institute (ANSI).”
As of June 12, Shorewood has taken no action, only to report that the Public Safety (police) committee is deferring to Excelsior to take the lead and agree that rules need to apply across the borders of all four cities. The new Excelsior ordinance does not apply to Shorewood.
The MN Legislature made a weak pass at tightening “rules” for e-bikes. Included in the new State legislation:
- To keep the fastest e-bikes off trails shared with pedestrians, the legal definition of an “electric-assisted bicycle” has been updated to more accurately explain what is not an e-bike such as those that exceed the lawful speed and power limits. The goal is to help keep the fastest e-bikes off shared trails.
- Safety training in public schools must include e-bike safety, which specifically includes that any person under 15 is not allowed to operate an e-bike.
- A definition of a “vulnerable road user” was added to the law that includes pedestrians using bikeways, trails and sidewalks.
- E-bike sellers must disclose details, including maximum motor power and speed of the bike being purchased.
Will this resolve the matter of fleets of adolescents riding 2 or 3 per bike, on local streets, trails and sidewalks at speeds up to 30 mph? The effectiveness of these rules is up to the reader to determine.
Sources:
Mastering the 2024 Minnesota E-Bike Laws, thecyclistchoice.com
Class II E-Bikes: Parents, Policy and Policing, Shorewood Citizen Advocates, July 2023
Added Safety is the Aim of New E-Bike Legislation, Eden Prairie News
