08/30/2026
We have received a number of complaints and seen several social media posts concerning e-bikes and similar electric devices being operated recklessly around Pea Ridge. We want everyone to know that we hear those concerns, we take them seriously, and most importantly, we care about the safety of our kids.
There is also some understandable confusion about what is, and is not, an e-bike under Arkansas law.
Most legal Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 e-bikes are treated much like traditional bicycles. They can legally be operated in many of the same places as bicycles and are subject to relatively few restrictions. Simply seeing a young person riding an e-bike on a roadway does not necessarily mean they are doing anything illegal.
However, not everything being called an “e-bike” is actually an e-bike.
We have several Heybike Villain electric dirt bikes in our community, along with similar high-powered devices. The Villain pictured in this post has a motor rated at more than 4,000 watts and can reach speeds of around 45 mph. It does not meet Arkansas’s legal definition of an electric bicycle and should not be treated like a normal bicycle or Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike.
We are letting parents know that officers will begin taking a closer look at high-powered electric dirt bikes when they are being operated on our public streets and sidewalks. Depending on the circumstances, violations may involve driver's licensing, equipment, unsafe operation, and other traffic laws.
*** Parents also need to understand that Arkansas law may hold an adult responsible when they knowingly allow an unauthorized minor to operate a motor vehicle on a public roadway.
Our goal is not to write tickets to children or parents. Our goal is to prevent a child from being seriously injured or killed.
Parents, please know what your child is riding. Talk to them about stop signs, intersections, traffic, pedestrians, helmets, speed, and the very real consequences of making a bad decision around a motor vehicle. Even a completely legal e-bike can become dangerous when it is operated irresponsibly.
Parents are the first and most important line of defense in keeping our kids safe. We are asking for your help.
We will continue educating riders and parents, but with the amount of unsafe behavior being reported and observed, there will also be enforcement when appropriate. This applies to all e-bikes, motorized scooters, etc.
Please help us keep Pea Ridge safe, especially for our children.
