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Central Minnesota city officials discuss regional answers to e-bike safety

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, Cloud area officials convened to address E-bike safety following an 11-year-old Cold Spring boy's hospitalization after his E-bike collided with a car that same day.
Confusion between regulated E-bikes and illegal E-motos drives many safety concerns, according to The APO, with Cloud Police Lieutenant Alec Elness noting 99% of law enforcement issues involve behavior already statutorily illegal.
Sartell Police Chief Brandon Silgjord threatened parents with administrative tickets for "allowing an illegal operation," noting E-motos reaching 60 mph pose greater risks than Class one E-bikes capped at 20 mph.
The Cloud Area Planning Organization plans to launch a "Know Before They Ride" campaign to educate parents, while officials are drafting potential ordinances including a mandate that children under 18 wear Helmets.
Sartell City Administrator Anna Gruber emphasized that any new ordinance requires law enforcement review to ensure enforceability, as local leaders agreed collaborating on shared messaging is essential to promote safety.

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