Tempe riders are getting a clear message before the next wave of Arizona State University students arrives: slow down or risk a traffic stop. New rules cap electric bikes and scooters at 10 mph on city sidewalks, require riders to drop to 5 mph when passing pedestrians, and set a 15 mph limit on multi-use paths and trails.
The regulations took effect Saturday, July 25, after Tempe adopted an ordinance in June. The City of Tempe says the changes are intended to make sidewalks and paths safer for pedestrians, cyclists and riders of motorized devices.
Enforcement is already underway, with officers watching roadways, sidewalks and multi-use paths. As reported by Arizona’s Family, Tempe police Det. Kasey Marsland said the department wants to address safety shortcomings, and riders who violate the rules may be stopped and ticketed.
The New Tempe E-Bike Rules In Plain English
For adult riders, Tempe guidance generally directs people to use the street when the posted speed limit is 25 mph or lower, or when a bike lane is available. If a rider is legally using a sidewalk, the motor must be disengaged, pedestrians have the right of way, and riders must provide an audible signal before passing.
The age rules also target faster devices. No one under 16 may operate a Class 3 electric bicycle or a similar device capable of reaching 28 mph, while riders younger than 18 must wear helmets; the city’s updated guidance also says Class 3 e-bikes are subject to the new path and sidewalk speed limits.
Residents’ complaints helped drive the changes, particularly concerns about riders appearing suddenly around corners or passing walkers at high speed. Marsland told Arizona’s Family that Tempe already required riders to slow when passing pedestrians, but the city added a general sidewalk speed limit to make the rule easier to apply.
A Safety Debate That Has Been Building For Months
Tempe’s crackdown follows a broader push that began earlier this year, when the City Council formed a committee to examine e-bike and scooter safety, helmet requirements, speed limits and abandoned rental devices. Arizona’s Family previously reported that Tempe recorded 388 serious-injury or fatal collisions from 2021 through 2024, with about 30% involving pedestrians or bicycle units.
That earlier policy discussion has now turned into an enforceable set of limits. Hoodline reported in January that Tempe officials were considering tougher regulations as complaints and injury concerns mounted across the city.
Tempe is not alone in tightening the rules. Chandler adopted its own e-bike ordinance in June, including a 16-year minimum age for Class 3 bikes, a ban on Class 3 bikes on sidewalks and shared-use paths, and a 15 mph limit for slower e-bikes in those areas, according to the City of Chandler.
What Riders Should Watch For
The practical takeaway is simple even if the ordinance is not: keep sidewalk speeds under 10 mph, slow to 5 mph around pedestrians, stay below 15 mph on multi-use paths, yield at crossings and use a bike lane when available. With ASU students returning and officers actively monitoring the network, Tempe’s formerly loosey-goosey micromobility rules are now much easier to test the hard way.
