Title 12 - Traffic

12.04.135 Electric-Assisted Bicycles and Electric-Assisted Scooters, Traffic Law Application.

1. a.

   An electric-assisted bicycle or a person riding an electric-assisted bicycle shall not be required to maintain: (1) Vehicle liability insurance coverage; (2) a driver’s license; (3) registration in accordance with article 1 of chapter 8 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto; (4) a certificate of title; or (5) a license plate. An electric-assisted bicycle shall not be considered a motor vehicle.

2. b.

   Traffic regulations, including sections 127 through 133 of the Standard Traffic Ordinance, applicable to bicycles shall apply to electric-assisted scooters and electric-assisted bicycles, except tricycles with no brake horse power.

3. c.

   It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an electric-assisted scooter at a speed in excess of fifteen (15) miles per hour, or on any street with a posted speed limit greater than thirty-five (35) miles per hour.

4. d.

   Electric-assisted scooters may be ridden on designated bike paths; however, whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to the roadway, riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.

5. e.

   It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an electric-assisted bicycle or electric-assisted scooter on any interstate highway, federal or state highway within the city; provided that, nothing in this section shall prohibit an electric-assisted bicycle or electric-assisted scooter from crossing a federal or state highway.

6. f.

   (1) An electric-assisted bicycle may be ridden in places where bicycles are allowed, including, but not limited to, streets, highways, roadways, bicycle lanes, bicycle or multi-use paths, trails or trail networks. (2) Subsection (F)(1) shall not apply to a trail that is specifically designated as nonmotorized and that has a natural surface tread that is made by clearing and grading.

7. g.
   No person under 16 years of age may operate a class 3 electric-assisted bicycle. A person under 16 years of age may ride as a passenger on a class 3 electric-assisted bicycle that is designed to accommodate passengers.

8. h.

   On and after January 1, 2023, manufacturers and distributors of electric-assisted bicycles shall apply a label that is permanently affixed, in a prominent location, to each electric-assisted bicycle. The label shall contain the classification number, top assisted speed and motor wattage of the electric-assisted bicycle and shall be printed in Arial font in at least nine-point type.

9. i.

   A person shall not tamper with or modify an electric-assisted bicycle in a manner that changes the motor-powered speed capability or engagement of an electric-assisted bicycle, unless the label indicating the classification required in subsection (c) is replaced after modification.

10. j.

    An electric-assisted bicycle shall comply with the equipment and manufacturing requirements adopted by the United States consumer product safety commission, 16 C.F.R. part 1512.

(History: Ord. No. TC-3512 §1, 2026; Ord. No. TC-3348 §2, 2021; Ord. No. TC-1260,AAA §2, 2004; Ord. TC-1260,UU §4, 2000; TC-1260 §135, 84) (State Law: K.S.A.8-1592(b))