Buckeye's city council voted unanimously on October 6 to approve Ordinance No. 15-26, a new set of rules governing electric bicycles, electric scooters and other motorized devices across the city. The measure sets age minimums, helmet requirements and escalating fines, arriving after police said resident complaints about reckless young riders nearly tripled in a single year.
The ordinance establishes age restrictions, helmet requirements and penalties for unsafe operation of electric bicycles, electric scooters and other motorized devices, according to West Valley View. City officials say the goal is to protect young riders, pedestrians and motorists, and Buckeye Police Chief Robert Sanders framed the effort simply: the ordinance is focused on safety and helping children get home safely. The vote capped months of community discussions, public feedback and collaboration among police, residents and city officials.
Complaints Nearly Tripled as Crashes Mounted
Sanders told the council that resident complaints involving electric devices jumped from roughly 100 in the same period the previous year to 250 in 2026. The police department also recorded 43 bicycle-related crashes and injuries during the year, per Sanders. Residents complained that young riders weaved through traffic, ignored stop signs and performed dangerous maneuvers at intersections, prompting Sanders to show the council videos of groups of young riders traveling through busy intersections, including near Southern Avenue and Miller Road.
Sanders said young riders lack the training and experience to make the same decisions as drivers — a concern that echoes a broader pattern described by the Arizona Fact Finders investigation, which found a series of e-bike crashes around the state as riders and drivers navigated unclear traffic rules. The Arizona Capitol Times has reported that state law leaves nearly every meaningful safety decision — age limits, helmet requirements, sidewalk rules, penalties and enforcement — up to individual cities, which helps explain why Buckeye's approach differs from its neighbors.
Age Limits, Helmets and a Parent Exemption
Under the new ordinance, riders must be at least 14 to operate Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles, and at least 16 to operate faster Class 3 electric bicycles. Standard electric stand-up scooters carry a minimum age of 12. Sanders said younger riders accompanied by a parent are exempt from those age restrictions.
Riders younger than 18 must wear a helmet while operating covered electric devices. Electric motorcycles remain subject to existing state regulations rather than the new local rules, though they may be impounded after a first violation depending on the circumstances and whether the riding was reckless.
Fines Climb With Repeat Violations
The ordinance sets a $100 fine for a first offense, $250 for a second violation within 12 months, and $500 plus impoundment for a third violation within that same window. Police may issue citations to parents of children younger than 12, while either the minor or the parent can be cited when a rider is between 12 and 15.
Despite the fine schedule, the police department says it is prioritizing education over penalties. Officers will issue warnings in most situations, reserving stronger enforcement for reckless behavior or incidents involving collisions. Buckeye plans educational outreach through schools, retailers, social media and community events throughout this month, with warnings and targeted enforcement beginning in December.
How the Rules Came Together
The police department held three community meetings and gathered feedback through surveys, social media and the city's youth council ahead of the vote. Sanders said 88 percent of survey respondents supported requiring helmets for riders younger than 18.
Not everyone wanted the age-based helmet line. Resident Michael Neuses urged council members to require helmets for all electric bicycle riders regardless of age, citing concerns about serious injuries and the difficulty of enforcing a universal mandate only above a certain age. Buckeye Vice Mayor Clay Goodman supported the under-18 helmet requirement as written, noting that Arizona law allows adults to operate motorcycles without helmets. Everybody should wear a helmet, Goodman said, but a line must be drawn somewhere. Goodman also praised the department's focus on educating parents and children about safe riding, saying educating parents is just as important as educating children.
Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn asked whether the ordinance gives officers the tools they need to address unsafe riding. Sanders responded that community outreach has already increased awareness and appears to have reduced reckless riding through major intersections. The department plans to evaluate the ordinance by monitoring injuries, resident complaints and unsafe operations, and may recommend adjustments down the line. Sanders said the bottom line is that children should get home safely and use electric devices respectfully.
How Buckeye Compares to Other Valley Cities
Buckeye's rules join a patchwork of local ordinances taking shape across the Phoenix area. Glendale recently adopted one of the state's more comprehensive ordinances, with age thresholds by device type, mandatory lighting and fines starting at $50 and escalating to $500 for repeat violations, according to the Arizona Capitol Times. Scottsdale bars riders under 16 from operating faster Class 3 e-bikes on city property, while Phoenix prohibits e-bike riding on sidewalks altogether, the outlet reported.
Enforcement has varied too. In Gilbert, police ran a targeted operation against unsafe e-bike and electric-motorcycle activity in the Power Ranch neighborhood, making 10 stops, issuing seven citations, towing 11 bikes and arresting six people, including two parents, according to ABC15. Gilbert's code also allows a Class 1 misdemeanor violation to carry a fine of up to $2,500 or up to six months in jail, per Gilbert's police department. For now, Buckeye is betting that education, rather than steep penalties, will get young riders — and their parents — to slow down.
