Phoenix leaders recently voted to allow electric bikes on all city streets and agreed to extend a downtown pilot program for electric scooters.
Razor and Spin will continue to rent e-scooters downtown for another year. The extension will give city staff time to create a comprehensive micro mobility program, rather than just a scooter program. Micro mobility devices include things like bicycles, scooters, and electric skateboards.
It’s something the downtown community has been advocating for years, said Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari.
“As we work to advance safety for our roadways, what better way to do so than planning for micro mobility advancements. So I’m really excited to support this item, we cannot reel back on current plans and progress that we’ve made in this realm, especially in our downtown," Ansari said.
The council's vote also makes electric bikes legal on all city streets, starting in April. Depending on the type, e-bikes can provide assistance as riders pedal up to 28 miles per hour.
A city report listed the following e-bike classifications:
- Class 1 e-bikes are defined as e -bikes that provide pedal assist up to 20 mph.
- Class 2 e-bikes, on the other hand, accelerate with the use of a throttle up to 20 mph.
- Class 3 e-bikes provide pedal assist up to 28 mph.
As of 2019, the city said, e-bike manufacturers and distributors are required to add a sticker stating the classification number, top assisted speed and motor wattage of the bicycle.
