Salt Lake City is weighing a new ordinance that would ban Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes from natural-surface trails unless signs say otherwise, while capping speeds at 15 mph for all bikes and e-bikes on paved trails citywide. The city council has tentatively scheduled a vote on the proposal for Nov. 17.
The rules, detailed by KSL, would let Class 1 e-bikes — the pedal-assist-only models — go anywhere regular bicycles are allowed. Class 2 e-bikes, which have throttle assistance that cuts out at 20 mph, and Class 3 e-bikes, which offer pedal assistance up to 28 mph, would be barred from dirt and natural-surface trails under the plan. The proposal would also bar e-motorcycles and other electric devices from paved trails unless specifically permitted, and it would add new yielding requirements for e-bike riders.
Violations would be treated as infractions, with warnings issued for first offenses rather than immediate citations. Salt Lake City park rangers and Public Lands staff would initially focus on educating riders before any violations are formally issued, according to the KSL report. The proposed ordinance would also carve out exemptions for adaptive mobility devices, police officers, first responders, and city employees acting within the scope of their duties.
Why City Officials Say Conflicts Are Rising
Kim Shelley, director of Salt Lake City's Department of Public Lands, said concerns have grown about speeding, yielding, and inconsiderate use on the city's newer urban trails. She said reducing those conflicts between different types of trail users was the primary driver behind the proposal, the same report notes.
Salt Lake City began exploring measures to address e-bike conflicts after Utah law changed in May, per the KSL article. The Utah Highway Safety Office says the underlying legislation, HB 381, took effect May 6, 2026, and modifies and clarifies the legal framework governing electric-assisted mobility devices, giving communities more authority to set local rules, according to the Utah Highway Safety Office.
City officials say Salt Lake studied how other communities have handled similar issues, looking at approaches used in Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada before drafting its own proposal. One trail getting particular attention is the 9-Line Trail at 900 South and 200 East, which Shelley says is experiencing rapid growth in use — the same corridor where cyclists were photographed riding in August 2024.
County Already Moved on Its Own Trails
Salt Lake County has already acted on similar restrictions for trails in unincorporated areas, including Butterfield Canyon and Yellow Fork Canyon. The county council's ordinance bans Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes from multi-use pathways, natural-surface trails, and public parks within county jurisdiction, according to KSL's coverage of that vote. Sources differ on the exact date: KSL reported the county council passed its measure on Sept. 2, while KJZZ reported the vote and immediate effective date came on Sept. 1.
KJZZ reported that the county's rule prohibits e-bikes from exceeding 20 mph on trails except in certain circumstances, and that violators face a $150 fine.
Council Chair Calls It a Significant Shift
Alejandro Puy, chairman of the Salt Lake City Council, said the proposal could represent a significant change for many riders who have grown used to riding e-bikes wherever they please. The city plans extensive outreach and education if the ordinance passes, Shelley said, adding that such outreach will help the public understand both the new rules and the differences between e-bike classes.
If approved, the city may add signage about the e-bike law along trails and could explain the change through social media, per the KSL report. Puy also noted the city will need to coordinate with other trail-owning entities, including the University of Utah, to keep messaging consistent across jurisdictions. It remains unclear, per that same reporting, what role police would play in enforcing the new rules alongside park rangers and Public Lands staff.
Trail Advocates Raise Concerns Over Wording
Not everyone is convinced the proposal's language is airtight. Cycling West argues the ordinance as drafted is ambiguous and could unintentionally sweep in adaptive bikes, e-skateboards, and other emerging forms of mobility alongside the e-bike classes it's meant to target. The outlet's analysis points to the proposal's stated goals — protecting public safety on shared-use trails and reducing conflicts among trail users — as laid out in the city's own Public Lands presentation.
Whether the council adopts the ordinance as written, amends it, or delays action remains to be seen at the Nov. 17 meeting. For now, the plan represents the city's attempt to balance a trail network that officials say is seeing fast growth in use with the safety concerns that growth has brought along with it.
