Community challenges are best addressed together, and for several months, we’ve worked with various groups thoroughly focused on how to ensure children and teens travel safely on bicycles, electric scooters, and e-bikes. 

The Olathe City Council has discussed several changes to ordinances to better reflect the growing number of electric scooters and e-bikes in our neighborhoods. At the April 21 City Council meeting, the governing body updated ordinances related to motor scooter devices.

We’re asking all parents and guardians to review the rules of the road with their children and teens. While the full rules may be found in the Olathe Traffic Ordinance, highlights include:

• All riders under 18 years old must wear a helmet when riding on an electric scooter or e-bike.
• Electric scooters cannot be ridden on the road unless the speed limit is 30 MPH or under and there’s no sidewalk.
• E-bikes may be ridden on roads with speed limits up to 40 MPH.
• Riders of bicycles or any motorized device must yield to pedestrians and warn them before passing (ring the bell, say “excuse me” or “on your left”, etc.)
• There is a 15 MPH limit for electric scooters and e-bikes on the sidewalk.
• It is illegal to ride a bicycle, e-bike, or electric scooter in a careless, reckless, or negligent manner or weaving in and out of traffic. Stay as close to the right side of the road as possible except when turning left.
• Parents may not authorize or knowingly permit their children to violate any Olathe bicycle, e-bike, or electric scooter regulations.
• It is important to note that the City of Olathe does not generally prohibit use of e-bikes or electric scooters on Olathe trails. County or private trails may have different rules.
• An electric scooter or e-bike must have proper lighting and be visible in order to ride at dusk or at night.
• Electric powered “bikes” that cannot be pedaled are actually motorcycles or motor-driven cycles and require a license to ride.
• If you get into an accident while riding on a bicycle, electric scooter, or e-bike where someone is injured or property is damaged, you must provide contact information to other parties involved and report the accident to the police.

While the ordinance can result in tickets for offences, the Olathe Police Department will first focus on education efforts. 

For the safety of every rider, we strongly encourage everyone to wear a helmet while riding a bike, e-bike, scooter, electric scooter, or just about anything with wheels. Please, remember to look both ways before crossing or turning onto a street. Keep yourself and others safe by getting up to speed on the rules of the road.

Find more information to the relevant provisions of bicycles, low-power cycles, and miscellaneous vehicles and devices at https://olathe.municipal.codes/Code/10.01_Art15