04/29/2026
The police department has been asked to address the issue of electric bikes and electric scooters on city streets.
Electric bicycles are required to obey traffic laws as are regular bicycles. They are to be driven on the right side of the road, obey regulatory signs and lane markings (including speed limits), not be ridden on sidewalks, etc. Under Arkansas law, there are three classes of electric bicycles. The operators of Class 3 electric bicycles (capable of reaching 28 mph before the motor stops providing assistance) must be at least 16 years of age and must wear a helmet if under 21 years of age.
Unlike cars, trucks, motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, the operators of bicycles and electric bicycles may proceed through a stop sign without stopping, as long as they slow down to the point that they can stop to avoid an immediate hazard and must still yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
Parents, you can help us by reminding your children to look both ways upon reaching a stop sign before riding through an intersection. If they see a car approaching, their best course of action is to stop, even if they have the legal right-of-way, and wait until they see that it is safe to proceed.
Electric motorized scooters, which are designed to stand on while riding, are not covered by all of the same traffic laws as bicycles, but Arkansas law does provide that they cannot be operated by a person under 16 years of age, nor can they exceed a speed of 15 mph.
Bicycles, electric bicycles, and electric motorized scooters, are not nearly as visible as motor vehicles, and the people riding them, regardless of age, need to remember that they are often hard to see. Visibility is the reason that motorcycles must be driven with their headlights on even during the day. Flashing lights and high-visibility clothing can help, and helmets may protect riders from head injuries, but driving a bike or scooter defensively can literally save the rider’s life. Pay attention to stop signs and traffic control devices, other traffic, and minimize distractions. Cell phones and AirPods can not only distract a rider but keep him or her from hearing oncoming traffic as well.
To the motoring public, remember that summer is right around the corner. School will be out in less than a month and there will be many more children riding bikes—some for the first time—on city streets. Let’s all do our part to help keep them safe.
