06/07/2026
๐-๐๐ข๐ค๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฅ๐โฃโฃ
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On Thursday, June 4th at 7:23pm, Jackson officers were dispatched to a personal injury accident on Hwy 60 at Jackson Drive involving an e-bike and a motor vehicle. The operator of the e-bike struck a vehicle turning right on a green light as the e-bike operator passed stopped traffic on the right shoulder. The operator was treated and released at a local hospital, but this collision was feet, if not inches, away from being a deadly tragedy. The e-bike operator forfeited their right-of-way by utilizing a non-travel lane (the shoulder) to pass stopped vehicles at an active intersection, making them the striking vehicle and the primary cause of the collision.โฃโฃ
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While e-bikes are a great way to get around, itโs critical to remember that under Wisconsin law, e-bike operators have the exact same rightsโand the ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌโas motor vehicle drivers.โฃโฃ
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Attempting to pass a vehicle on the right at an active intersection is dangerous and a violation of traffic laws.โฃโฃ
โข ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ: Under ๐๐ข๐ฌ. ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ. ยง ๐๐๐.๐๐, you can only pass a vehicle on the right if they are making a left turn, or if there is a dedicated, lawful second lane. Bypassing traffic on the shoulder at an intersection is illegal.โฃโฃ
โข ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐: ๐๐ข๐ฌ. ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ. ยง ๐๐๐.๐๐(๐)(๐) explicitly requires bicycle and e-bike riders to use extra care and caution when passing any stopped or moving vehicle.โฃโฃ
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๐-๐๐ข๐ค๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ:โฃโฃ
โข ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐: Do not ride on the shoulder to skip ahead of stopped traffic at intersections. Wait your turn in line just like a car.โฃโฃ
โข ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ก ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฌ: If you are approaching an intersection, look closely at the front vehicles' turn signals. Assume they cannot see you in their passenger-side mirror.โฃโฃ
โข ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐: E-bikes do not qualify as โmotor vehiclesโ under Wisconsin law; you cannot get an OWI on a legal e-bike. That said, just because OWI doesn't apply doesn't mean anything goes. E-bikes are considered vehicles under the rules of the road. If an e-bike is operated carelessly or endangers others, the rider can face charges of Reckless Driving . If an injury or death occurs, riders could also face severe criminal charges like Recklessly Endangering Safety.โฃโฃ
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Let's look out for one another out there. Ride smart, drive safe, and protect your community!โฃโฃ