News2: ‘The goal is not to punish kids’: City of Charleston gives reminder on e-bike rules
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The City of Charleston is reminding parents that there is a new city ordinance, passed in May, regarding new rules on e-bikes, e-motos and mopeds.
Councilwoman Leslie Skardon said the city passed the new rules after a rise in complaints about reckless riding on sidewalks and paths.
“The most important thing to understand is that e-bikes and e-motos are not the same thing under the law,” Councilwoman Skardon said.
An e-bike has working pedals, a motor under 750 watts, and tops out under 20 mph. It follows the same rules as a bicycle while am e-moto has a motor over 750 watts and can go faster than 20 mph on the throttle alone.
The law treats it as a moped or motorcycle, which means it must be registered and the rider must have a driver’s license or moped license.
“If your child is not licensed, they cannot legally ride an e-moto anywhere on public property. Riders under 21 also need a helmet and eye protection, and headlights and taillights have to be on whenever it is running. A lot of families do not realize the machine in their garage is legally a motorcycle. That is worth checking this week,” the councilwoman said.
E-bikes can drive on bike lanes, buffered lanes, paved shoulders, bicycle boulevards and multi-use paths, while driving on sidewalks is not allowed anywhere in the city.
If the rules are broken, a juvenile can be cited or taken into custody and a parent or guardian can also be cited for allowing it, according to the councilwoman.
If no parent is available, the bike may be towed at the family’s expense. Violations are a misdemeanor up to $500 or 30 days.
“The goal here is not to punish kids – it is to keep them alive. We have young riders on sidewalks and in traffic on machines that move like motorcycles, and the close calls are adding up. Please take ten minutes this weekend to look at what your kid is riding and talk through where they can ride it,” the councilwoman said.