Auburn City Council has approved a sweeping new ordinance regulating e-bikes and electric motorcycles, giving police the authority to impound vehicles and fine riders as much as $750 for repeat violations. The council passed Ordinance No. 7029 during its regular meeting on August 3, amending the city code to draw a hard legal line between pedal-assist bicycles and the faster, more powerful electric motorcycles that have proliferated on Auburn's streets, sidewalks, and trails.
According to a news release from the City of Auburn, the ordinance amends Section 10.56.010 and adds an entirely new Chapter 10.57 to the Auburn City Code, distinguishing Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 electric-assisted bicycles from higher-powered electric motorcycles. City officials say the update follows recent changes to Washington state law that clarified e-bike classifications and began building a regulatory framework for electric motorcycles, and that the previous code left the city with insufficient enforcement options for newer, higher-speed vehicles. Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus said e-bikes “can be a fun and convenient way to get around, but they must be operated responsibly,” per the release, adding that the city has received reports of reckless riding — including incidents involving minors — along with significant and permanent damage to natural areas and public pathways.
Drawing the Line Between Bikes and Motorcycles
Under the new chapter, an electric motorcycle is defined as an electric-powered motorcycle that lacks fully operable pedals, exceeds 750 watts, or provides motor assistance above 28 mph, the city says. Anyone younger than 16 is now barred from operating one anywhere in Auburn. Riders who do meet the age requirement must have a valid driver's license with a motorcycle endorsement, and the vehicles themselves must be registered with the Washington State Department of Licensing, display a valid license plate, and meet state requirements before ever touching a public street.
Electric motorcycles are now banned outright from sidewalks, pedestrian paths, shared-use paths and park trails, as well as from city-owned or controlled parks, open spaces and other city property, except in parking lots, the city says. Auburn Police Chief Mark Caillier said the ordinance “gives officers clearer standards to apply when unsafe behavior occurs,” according to the release.
New Rules Also Target Faster E-Bikes
The ordinance does not stop at electric motorcycles. Class 3 e-bikes — which provide assistance only while the rider is pedaling and cut off at a top speed of 28 mph, and which come equipped with a speedometer — are now also prohibited on sidewalks, pedestrian paths, shared-use paths and park trails in Auburn. All classes of e-bikes are barred from parks that contain bicycle-specific facilities, and Class 3 bikes specifically are banned from city-owned parks, open spaces and other city property outside of parking lots.
Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Julie Krueger said the clearer rules will help protect trails and pathways from the higher speeds of Class 3 e-bikes and electric motorcycles, the city said. The move builds on rules the council adopted in January governing Auburn's 10- to 14-foot-wide paved multi-use paths, which allowed Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes while explicitly prohibiting golf carts, low-speed motor vehicles and motorized parking on those routes.
Fines Climb Steeply, Parents Can Share the Bill
Auburn police may now issue civil infractions and impound e-bikes or electric motorcycles operated in violation of the ordinance, with violators responsible for applicable impound, towing, storage and court costs. Electric motorcycle violations carry a $250 fine for a first offense, $500 for a second, and $750 for a third or subsequent violation. Electric-assisted bicycle violations are lower but still climb with repeat offenses — $125 for a first violation, $250 for a second, and $375 for a third or subsequent violation.
Parents, legal guardians and supervising adults may not knowingly allow a minor in their care to violate the ordinance, and guardians who permit a violation may be held jointly responsible with the minor for resulting penalties, the city says. The ordinance takes effect five days after passage, approval and publication as provided by law, and Auburn says it plans to roll out public education covering vehicle classifications, legal operating locations, and rider and guardian responsibilities.
Part of a Wider Regional Push
Auburn's action fits into a broader wave of state and county rule-making triggered by the blurring line between lightweight e-bikes and high-speed electric two-wheelers. Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6110 in March, establishing that any vehicle capable of exceeding 20 mph on motor power alone cannot be classified as an e-bike, according to BillTrack50. The law, which took effect in June, also created a Department of Licensing work group tasked with recommending a comprehensive statutory framework for electric motorcycles, with an interim report due in December and final recommendations expected in October 2027, as reported by Powersports Business.
King County Parks launched a public safety campaign in July across its 175-mile regional trail network, which includes Auburn's Green River Trail, reminding users that Class 3 e-bikes and e-motos are illegal on trails and that a 15 mph speed limit applies, per King County Parks. Nearby, the Enumclaw City Council adopted its own ordinance in July banning e-motos from sidewalks, parks and trails, according to Citizen Portal, while Kirkland Police have ramped up patrols targeting youth riding unregistered e-motos, citing widespread parent confusion over the legal differences between e-bikes and e-motos.
Why Cities Are Racing to Catch Up
The regulatory scramble reflects a national surge in injuries tied to these vehicles. A U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report released in April found emergency department visits for e-bike injuries climbed to an estimated 59,200 in 2024, up from 26,800 in 2022, with total micromobility injuries reaching nearly 698,500 from 2017 to 2024. A separate nationwide analysis published in JAMA Surgery found e-bike injuries rose more than 99% annually between 2017 and 2022, with riders who weren't wearing helmets facing nearly twice the odds of head injury compared to helmeted riders — and only 44% of injured riders in that study were documented wearing helmets.
Much of the danger stems from unregulated e-motos such as Sur-Ron or Talaria models, which can cost as little as $1,000 online, reach speeds over 50 mph, and are often sold with software or aftermarket kits that bypass factory speed limiters, according to the Mineta Transportation Institute. Manufacturers and retailers frequently market these off-road vehicles to teenagers as though they were ordinary Class 2 e-bikes, the institute notes. Auburn's ordinance arrives as Hoodline has previously reported on a serious e-bike crash involving a child in Totem Lake, underscoring the stakes as cities across King County move to close gaps in their local codes before more riders get hurt.
