In a move to ramp up regulations around the rapidly spreading e-transport trend, Carmel City Council has passed a new ordinance putting the brakes on where and how fast micromobility and E-moto devices can roam. According to a news release rolled out by the city, the ordinance—effective immediately—lays down the law on e-scooters and e-bikes while pushing more powerful e-moto vehicles like e-motorcycles off sidewalks and trails completely.
Under the new rules, passed just last night, e-motorcycles and e-dirt bikes, which typically pack more than 750 watts and can zoom over 20 mph sans human power, are now prohibited from all city streets, sidewalks, multi-use paths, and trails. Meanwhile, riding on City-owned sidewalks, paths, and trails, micromobility devices are now permitted, albeit with varying degrees of speed throttling, from a zippy 20 mph on multi-use paths to a more reserved 15 mph trot on public sidewalks and greenways, as reported by the official statement.
Other facets of the newly minted ordinance include a strict enforcement of rules like right-of-way yielding to pedestrians, a three-foot passing clearance when overtaking, and a ban on distracted driving—no phones unless you're rocking hands-free tech. The rulebook also throws a safety hat into the ring: riders under 16 must wear helmets. Furthermore, caveats for Class 3 E-bikes state that no riders under 15 may take the helm of these faster bikes, as outlined by the city's release.
Should riders forget the rules of the road, they face escalating fines starting at $100 for a first offense, and for the repeat offenders, the city is not shy about slapping handcuffs on the devices themselves with impoundment risks. Councilor Matt Snyder was quoted praising the cooperating efforts saying, "The primary motive is safety," as disclosed in the news bulletin. He highlighted the city's commitment to leading the charge on regulations, particularly with the youth helmet mandate and e-moto classification.
