Overland Park has placed new restrictions on e-bikes and e-scooters in the city — notably, banning kids from riding e-bikes that can go past 25 mph.
It is the latest Johnson County city to update its rules for micromobility devices that have seen a recent surge in popularity among younger riders.
The discussion in Overland Park comes months after 10-year-old Duke Ommert died last fall from injuries sustained while riding an e-scooter in Leawood. He was wearing a helmet.
Discussion at an Overland Park public safety committee meeting last week struck the tone of balancing safety with kids’ freedom to move about the city.
On Monday, the Overland Park City Council voted 11-0 to approve a slate of traffic code changes tied to e-bikes and e-scooters. More rules are likely to come later, including talks of a helmet requirement next month.
How they voted
The ordinance was on the city council’s consent agenda, which means it wasn’t independently discussed before it was voted on alongside a series of other unanimous recommendations from committees.
Here’s how members of the city council voted:
- Logan Heley: Yes
- Holly Grummert: Yes
- Melissa Cheatham, council president: Yes
- Drew Mitrisin: Yes
- Richard Borlaza: Yes
- Amy Scrivner: Absent
- Gregg Riess: Yes
- Amy Antrim: Yes
- Andrew Payne: Yes
- Inas Younis: Yes
- Josh Beck: Yes
- Chris Newlin: Yes
What Overland Park’s e-bike, e-scooter ordinance changes
One of the key changes centers on the age of riders. It prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from riding class 3 e-bikes, which are throttle-assisted bikes that can reach higher speeds.
To compare, class 2 e-bikes can reach speeds up to 20 mph and have a pedal assist and a throttle, while class 1 e-bikes can reach the same speeds but have only a pedal assist.
Additionally, the city will require manufacturers of these e-bikes and e-scooters to label them with the wattage, top speeds and device classification (class 1, 2 or 3), while also prohibiting users from tampering with or altering the device, like adding false pedals or making changes that could increase the speed.
The ordinance does allow e-bikes to be operated on streets with a speed limit over 35, something that was previously not allowed in Overland Park. E-scooters are still not permitted on such streets but are allowed on designated bike paths.
The approved draft does not specify enforcement fees or ticket costs for violating these rules, and city officials haven’t mentioned whether Overland Park will put any on the books. However, according to Overland Park’s municipal court fine schedule, tickets issued to bicyclists who don’t comply with current traffic laws result in a fine of $91.
A “balance” with e-bike, e-scooter rules
During a Public Safety Committee meeting last week, Councilmember Gregg Riess urged his fellow committee members to “be thoughtful” in the conversation about e-bikes and e-scooters, noting that he wants to see a “balance” struck that allows kids to continue to use them, while also putting “the right guardrails in place.”
“I’m concerned about restricting these devices for kids [too much],” he said. “I like the idea that they’re out of their basements, they’re visiting with their friends, and they’re socializing and getting to school and using alternative transportation modes.”
However, he said he’s still mindful of the safety risk e-bikes and e-scooters can pose to young riders, as well as drivers and pedestrians, and supported imposing the restrictions laid out in the ordinance.
Other Johnson County cities have changed e-bike, e-scooter rules, too
Overland Park isn’t the only city in Johnson County taking steps to restrict some e-bike and e-scooter usage.
Last month, the Olathe City Council unanimously approved an updated ordinance that requires helmets for riders under 18 and puts restrictions on where the devices can be ridden.
Leawood now requires helmets for anyone under 18 riding an electric-powered scooter, bicycle or other device. Shawnee took similar steps, as did Prairie Village.
Fairway effectively banned the devices for riders under the age of 15 and requires all minors to wear helmets.
Helmet requirements could still be imposed
The new rules do not set a helmet requirement for e-bikes and e-scooters in Overland Park. However, the city might still impose one.
During the discussion last Wednesday, at least some committee members seemed keen to pursue a helmet requirement for riders of e-bikes and e-scooters under the age of 16 or potentially under the age of 18.
Riess was a proponent of the idea, urging city staff to return with another proposed ordinance next month that would establish a helmet requirement.
“I feel like, as a council, we have an opportunity to take a look at the helmets and decide, ‘Is that something that we want to do,’” he said.
However, not everyone was convinced. Councilmember Logan Heley suggested he wanted to bring in BikeWalkKC — a regional nonprofit organization focused on advocating for better access to connected biking and walking infrastructure — to weigh in on a helmet requirement before proceeding.
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