E-motorcycles, or E-motos, have caught the attention of the Austin city officials, who now aim to regulate the use of these electric two-wheelers that have been popular among teenagers who often ride in groups and allegedly create chaos.
Teens often weave dangerously through traffic on main roads and downtown streets at high speed, as E-motos can reach speeds of up to 60 mph. Therefore, the city passed a resolution last week, directing city staff to address the challenge.
What concerns officials most is the way E-motos are often marketed as electric bikes. In reality, they often turn out to be quite powerful electric motorcycles with go-anywhere capability for as long as the charge lasts.
Young riders show a blatant disregard for the law, using the E-motos like dirt bikes and speeding around town, even riding the wrong way, and performing wheelies, putting several lives at risk.
Resolution to Enforce New Rules on E-Motos
The resolution demands new rules related to E-motos, an awareness campaign, and a review of police training, according to a report by Statesman.
Not only that, the resolution calls for a feasibility study to determine if city parkland can be made an official off-road recreation area for E-moto owners. That may deter teens from performing stunts on public roads.
The goal of the resolution is to end the threat these E-motos pose to public safety, as they come into the hands of teenagers eager to push these vehicles to the limit. Council Member Paige Ellis, who sponsored the resolution, said:
“The concern is that there are now these very powerful devices out on the streets that are sold and marketed like they’re an electric bicycle, but in reality they are a small motorcycle.”
As stated by Ellis, E-motos are like motorcycles that require registration. They come with no pedals and can reach speeds of up to 60 mph. Riders also need to have a license and insurance to use them.
E-bikes, on the other hand, are electric bicycles equipped with pedals and are capable of reaching speeds of 20 to 28 mph. These are street legal, and there is no requirement to have them registered.
However, there is a thin line between the two kinds of electric two-wheelers, and it is challenging to monitor which kind is being ridden around.
Complete Disregard for Public Safety
Ellis said that with E-motos, the riding behavior of teens has instilled fear in people. She said:
“A lot of people have seen them zipping around, sometimes into oncoming traffic, or cutting corners really tightly. It’s turned into a bit of a chaotic situation that is scaring people.”
News of the resolution being passed comes days after Sheriff Sally Hernandez urged Travis County parents to keep their children off public roads.
In the letter, Hernandez described how teens riding in large groups on major roadways in Austin ignored a deputy’s attempts to stop and direct them off the road, despite using lights, sirens, and verbal instructions. It reads:
“I shudder at the thought of what could happen to a child on an e-bike on a roadway designed for passenger and commercial vehicle traffic.”
“Participants escalated their behavior to include wheelies and other reckless maneuvers. It is terrifyingly dangerous and if this behavior continues, I fear tragedy will happen.”
Hernandez said the officers were investigating the incident to identify riders and issue warrants.