HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Honolulu’s new e-bike ordinance bans stunts and requires minors to wear helmets, but it fails to address high-powered electric bikes that are reportedly causing much of the chaos on Oahu’s roads.
Now, state lawmakers must decide whether to enact stricter regulations.
The issue centers around “out of class” electric bikes: e-bikes that are more than 750 watts or go faster than 20 miles per hour. Currently, they’re not defined in the state traffic code, and technically aren’t even allowed on public streets.
In neighborhoods across Oahu, seeing riders operating e-bikes at unsafe speeds and performing stunts isn’t uncommon.
An increase in injuries associated with hazardous behavior recently prompted the passage of a new law.
While Honolulu’s e-bike ordinance now requires minors to wear helmets and requires riders to keep both of the bikes wheels on the ground on public roadways, the city admits it does little to address crux of the issue.
Roger Morten, Honolulu’s director of Transportation Services, said high-powered electric scooters or electric motorcycles “can go from zero from 70 miles an hour very quickly.”
Morten said initially the plan was to include rules regulating high-powered e-bikes in the new law. However, the city’s lawyers didn’t think it was a good idea.
“They basically advised us that we should not be regulating vehicles that are not defined within the statewide traffic code,” Morten said.
Now, the city and the Honolulu Police Department are backing a state bill to do just that.
House Bill 958 categorizes e-bikes and electric scooters based on speed and other features. It sets age limits and also restricts high speed operation in certain places.
A similar Senate bill is also making its way though the Legislature.
“Senate Bill 1117 creates a new definition for electric motorcycles,” said state Sen. Chris Lee. The head of the Senate Transportation and Culture and Arts Committee authored the bill.
Lee said it also prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from operating an electric motorcycle.
“It would have a requirement, just like a motorcycle, to be registered, to be licensed, have insurance and abide by the rules of the road. And there are penalties attached to that if folks don’t comply,” Lee said.
Morten said, “Our objective is to find that balance between technology that would be appropriate for someone to use like a bicycle. If they’re going to school, if they’re not a licensed driver, we’re okay with expanding that to a low-powered motor assist, so if they’re going uphill, it would be a little easier to do that.”
Morten added, “But we don’t think these other vehicles are appropriate for people without driver’s licenses or motorcycle licenses. That’s the distinction.”
The House version of the bill has a public hearing scheduled for Friday, March 14, at 9:30 a.m. in conference room 229 while the Senate version moved forward Thursday morning with amendments.
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