Chandler Readies E-Bike Regulations to Improve Safety

New rules aim to curb rising e-bike injuries and fatalities in the city

Apr. 19, 2026 at 7:15am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of an electric bicycle icon repeated in a tight grid pattern, utilizing flat, vibrant, and unnatural neon color palettes overlapping with heavy black photographic outlines to turn the everyday e-bike into modern pop art, conceptually representing Chandler's new e-bike regulations.Chandler's new e-bike regulations aim to promote sustainable transportation while prioritizing public safety through education and voluntary compliance.Chandler Today

Chandler, Arizona is preparing to implement new regulations for e-bike usage in the city, including requiring helmets for youth riders, banning the fastest Class 3 e-bikes from sidewalks and parks, and enforcing speed limits on other e-bike classes. The move comes as e-bike use has surged nationwide, leading to a 350% increase in injuries and 60% rise in head injuries according to city data.

Why it matters

E-bikes have become increasingly popular in Chandler and across the Valley, but the lack of regulations has led to safety concerns as the number of emergency room visits and fatalities related to e-bike incidents has risen sharply in recent years. The new rules aim to strike a balance between promoting e-bike use and protecting public safety, especially for vulnerable road users like pedestrians.

The details

The proposed Chandler ordinance would create several new regulations for e-bike use in the city. All youth under 18 would be required to wear helmets when riding any e-bike. Class 3 e-bikes, which can reach speeds up to 28 mph, would be banned from sidewalks and parks, while Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes (up to 20 mph) would be limited to 15 mph on sidewalks and in parks. The ordinance would also prohibit anyone under 16 from operating a Class 3 e-bike. However, there will be no minimum age requirement for the slower Class 1 and 2 models, despite some council members' concerns about younger riders. The goal is to focus on education and voluntary compliance rather than fines or tickets.

  • In the past 6 years (2017-2023), 193 Americans died in incidents involving e-bikes, and there were 87,400 e-bike-related emergency room visits.
  • Chandler city staff were directed to draft the new e-bike ordinance at an April 9, 2026 work session.
  • The city council is expected to consider the proposed ordinance, likely in May 2026.

The players

Tadd Wille

Chandler's assistant city manager, who presented data on the nationwide surge in e-bike injuries and fatalities to the city council.

Matt Orlando

Chandler city councilman who expressed concerns about young riders' ability to safely operate e-bikes, especially the faster models.

Christine Ellis

Chandler city councilwoman who argued that setting a minimum age for e-bike use would be government overreach, and that it should be up to parents to teach their children how to ride safely.

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What they’re saying

“You can see that all of our six peer cities have some form of e-bike restrictions. Nationally, there's about a 350% increase in injuries, 60% are head injuries.”

— Tadd Wille, Chandler Assistant City Manager

“I've ridden e-bikes before – it's extremely hard to stop when you're at that speed. I'm wondering if someone 8 years old, they can barely ride a bike now at six or eight or nine, and it's really easy to stop when you're going five or six miles an hour, but riding an e-bike.”

— Matt Orlando, Chandler City Councilman

“What I'm looking at is parental. It's up to the parents to teach their children how to ride bikes in the city. If we start telling their parents of a 12-year-old they cannot buy their children that type of bike, that's a little bit overreach for me.”

— Christine Ellis, Chandler City Councilwoman

What’s next

The Chandler City Council is expected to consider the proposed e-bike ordinance, likely in May 2026, after city staff have drafted the full regulations.

The takeaway

Chandler's new e-bike rules aim to balance promoting sustainable transportation options with ensuring public safety, especially for vulnerable road users like pedestrians. The focus on education over enforcement reflects the city's desire to encourage responsible e-bike use rather than simply punish violations.