Sparks Police is reminding residents to follow the state e-bike and e-scooter laws after multiple complaints about juveniles riding recklessly throughout the city.
Officers have also seen an increase in people riding electric motorcycles as if they're e-bikes. Under Nevada law, an electric bicycle must have fully operable pedals and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts.
Depending on the class, motor assistance is limited to 20 mph or 28 mph.
An electric scooter must have handlebars, weigh less than 100 pounds, and have a top speed of no more than 20 mph.
Devices that exceed those limits are considered motor vehicles, and riders must have a valid driver's license, wear a helmet, and the vehicle must be registered and insured.
Sparks Police have released the following safety tips for e-bike and e-scooter riders:
- Always wear an appropriate helmet. When traveling at higher, sustained speeds, a standard helmet made for a traditional bike may not be enough. A helmet with a chin guard provides better facial protection and is recommended for higher-speed e-bikes.
- Wear safety gear for e-scooters. In addition to helmets, experts recommend wearing wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. These can help reduce the chance of common extremity injuries, such as broken arms or wrists.
- Talk with your kids before they ride e-bikes or e-scooters. Make sure your kids understand that speed increases risk — e bikes and e scooters allow riders to reach and maintain higher speeds than traditional bikes. Higher speeds reduce reaction time, can make the bike more difficult to control, and increase the force of impact in a crash. Children don’t yet have the experience needed to safely judge speed, traffic gaps or how quickly a situation can become dangerous.
- Know the rules of the road. Bicyclists have the same rights and the same responsibilities as other drivers in Nevada. Electric bicycles are legally classified as vehicles when ridden on public roads, meaning normal traffic laws apply to their operation. This includes obeying traffic lights, stop signs, speed limits, right-of-way rules, and signaling when appropriate.
- Purchase your e-bike or e-scooter from a reputable seller and avoid counterfeit or unlabeled products. Sometimes businesses that sell these products do not comply with the regulations in place to improve safety. Companies or sellers based in a different country, for example, might not face the same regulations as those in the U.S. These sellers might also sell off-brand products or items that can be easily modified.
