Electric and Motorized Micromobility Devices Including E-Bikes and Motorized Bikes

Policy Considerations, Safety Concerns, and Community Impact

WHEN “MICROMOBILITY” BECOMES MAYHEM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
Call them e-bikes, dirt bikes, scooters, mini motos, or anything else you want; the label doesn’t really matter anymore. What does matter is what’s happening on our streets, sidewalks, trails, and shared green spaces. Increasingly, kids are riding these machines recklessly, and the consequences are showing up in ways that are hard to miss: torn-up lawns, damaged playgrounds, dangerous trail encounters, and a growing number of near misses with pedestrians and cars.

This isn’t about being anti-technology or anti-fun. Somewhere along the line, the line between recreation and disregard has blurred, and our community spaces (and safety) are paying the price.

TURF ISN’T A TRACK
Turf isn’t tough enough to withstand the repeated stress of motorized vehicles, whether gas-powered or electric. When riders speed across grass or spin their wheels, they strip the areas of grass, turn them into dirt or mud, and carve deep grooves into the ground. These ruts don’t just look bad; they create real hazards. These areas become uneven, slippery, rutted, and potentially dangerous.

Playgrounds are taking hits too. Areas designed for small children have safety surfacing installed in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards and are being rutted up by these devices. What should be a safe place for toddlers and families becomes worn down, unsafe, and expensive to repair.

Please refer to the photographs below documenting damage to turf and play areas, as well as recent photos and videos of some of the riders responsible for this activity.

TRAILS ARE BECOMING DANGER ZONES
It’s not just open spaces: our walking and biking trails are seeing a shift from shared use to unsafe use. Riders are speeding down paths meant for a mix of joggers, dog walkers, families with strollers, and casual cyclists. There have been increasing reports of riders flying around blind corners at high speeds, passing within inches of pedestrians, forcing walkers or joggers off the trail, nearly colliding with strollers and small children, and startling dogs, creating potential injury risks for both pets and owners.

These aren’t isolated inconveniences. They are near misses that could easily become serious accidents. Trails are designed to be shared, but that only works when everyone respects speed, visibility, and right-of-way. Right now, that balance is breaking down. One thing for parents to be aware of is the three classes of e-bikes:

• Class 1: Pedal-assist only with no throttle. The motor provides assistance up to 20 mph, after which it cuts off, allowing you to pedal faster unassisted. These are the most broadly accepted class and are generally permitted on standard bike paths and multi-use trails.
• Class 2: Features both pedal-assist and a throttle (allowing the bike to move without pedaling). Motor support for both functions cuts off at 20 mph. Access rules often group Class 2 bikes with Class 1, but some strict off-road trails prohibit them due to the throttle.
• Class 3: Pedal-assist only (often featuring a throttle that caps at 20 mph for safety), but the motor provides continuous assistance up to 28 mph. Designed mainly for paved roads and commuting, Class 3 e-bikes are often excluded from multi-use bike paths, and some states require riders to be 16 or 17 and wear a helmet.

Our Declaration clearly prohibits any use of motorized vehicles other than those approved by the HOA performing maintenance. This means that only e-bikes with fully operating pedals are permitted on the trails. Mopeds, dirt bikes, and any e-bikes that lack fully functioning pedals are prohibited on the trails and all association owned property.

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT NOISE – OR LACK THEREOF
Many people first notice the issue because of noise from gas-powered devices, but quiet electric bikes and scooters can cause just as much danger when used irresponsibly. The innate problem is behavior. Virginia law requires all riders using sidewalks, trails, or crosswalks to yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing (bell, horn, or verbal cue). Additional concerns include cutting across private lawns, riding through playgrounds, treating walking trails and turfed areas like racetracks, and ignoring basic safety around pedestrians. The type of vehicle is secondary. The impact is what matters, and that impact is increasing.

RISKY BEHAVIOR ON ROADS AND IN TRAFFIC
Another concerning trend is how these riders interact with traffic. Many are weaving in and out of cars, darting into intersections, and crossing roads without stopping or yielding. Common behaviors observed include ignoring stop signs and traffic lights, riding against traffic flow, making sudden, unpredictable turns into roadways, cutting across lanes without looking, and crossing busy streets without checking for oncoming vehicles. There have already been several near misses between riders and cars. It’s only a matter of time before one of these incidents becomes a serious accident.

What makes this especially alarming is that many of these riders are not of driving age. They often lack even a basic understanding of traffic rules, right-of-way, or how quickly a car can approach. They may not appreciate how limited a driver’s ability is to react, especially when someone suddenly enters the road. When inexperienced riders share roads with multi-ton vehicles, the risk isn’t just theoretical; it’s immediate and potentially life-threatening.

A QUESTION OF AWARENESS AND RESPONSIBILITY
At its core, this is about awareness and responsibility, both from riders and from the adults guiding them. Public spaces and roads come with expectations. They require basic rules to be followed so that everyone can use them safely. Right now, those rules are being ignored. Trails are no longer reliably safe for pedestrians, green spaces are being damaged, and roads are being treated casually by riders who don’t fully grasp the risks. Without intervention, behavior like this tends to escalate, not diminish.

There has to be a framework that keeps everyone safe and protects shared property. This includes clear boundaries: keeping motorized vehicles off playgrounds, grass, and pedestrian-heavy areas; and safer riding education, ensuring kids understand traffic laws, trail etiquette, and right-of-way.

LAWS OF THE LAND
It’s especially important to review guidance from the Sheriff’s Office to understand how e-bikes, dirt bikes, scooters, and other micromobility devices are classified and regulated. The county notes that different devices, such as bicycles, e-bikes, mopeds, and off-road dirt bikes, fall under separate legal categories, which determine where they can be ridden and who is allowed to operate them.  Laws address key factors such as helmet requirements. Helmets are required for all riders under 15 on bicycles, e-bikes, motorized scooters, skateboards, and electric mobility devices. They are required for all riders, regardless of age, for mopeds, ATVs, and dirt bikes. Laws also address minimum age and supervision rules. For example, class 3 e-Bike, scooter, and motorized skateboard riders under 14 must be supervised by someone 18 or older. They address whether a license or vehicle registration is needed, depending on the device type. If capable of exceeding 35 MPH, a motorized device is considered a motorcycle under Virginia law and is subject to motorcycling license and registration requirements. The guidance also explains where each type of device is permitted. Many bicycles and standard e-bikes may be used on roads, bike lanes, and most trails, while higher-powered or off-road vehicles like dirt bikes and ATVs are restricted to private property with permission and are not allowed on roads or trails.

This issue is not isolated to Broadlands; rather, it reflects a broader trend being observed locally, regionally, and across the country. Local grocery and other stores are reporting riders entering the stores, terrorizing patrons, and destroying property. With no license plates or identifying characteristics, property owners cannot positively identify the culprits. Recognizing the growing concern, the Sheriff’s Office has launched a proactive e‑bike safety program specifically to address increasing reports of unsafe riding, particularly among youth. The initiative allows residents to submit complaints (including photos and videos), with follow‑up by School Resource Officers to educate riders and their families and increase enforcement presence where needed.

At the state level, Virginia has also acknowledged the rapid rise of micromobility devices and the challenges they present. Recent legislation directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to convene a work group to examine and make recommendations for improving the safety of electric power‑assisted bicycles, motorized skateboards and scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and mopeds for both operators and the general public.  This effort reflects growing recognition that existing laws and infrastructure have not kept pace with the widespread adoption of these devices. Nationally, similar concerns are being reported, with significant increases in injuries and accidents tied to micromobility use, underscoring the need for clearer regulations, increased education, and consistent enforcement.

THE BOTTOM LINE
This isn’t about whether it’s an e-bike, scooter, or dirt bike. It’s about the impact, and right now, that impact is visible in damaged spaces, unsafe trails, and increasingly dangerous interactions with traffic. We’re seeing many near misses: with joggers, with strollers, with dogs, and with cars. We’re also seeing tragic accidents, with headlines such as: 13-Year Old Girl Dies One Day After Sustaining Injuries in Scooter Crash, Teen Critically Hurt in Chantilly E-bike Crash, E-Bike Rider Seriously Injured in Dunn Loring Crash, and Lucketts E-bike Riders Transported in Life-threatening Condition, and Loudoun County Dispatch calls such as: E-Bike Hits Parked Car and Leaves Scene and Reckless Driver and Juveniles On E-Bikes On Route 50.

If we want to preserve the safety and usability of our neighborhoods, we need to address the behavior now, before the damage goes beyond ruts in the ground and becomes something far more serious. So please, talk to your kids, and check out LCSO’s bicycle, E-Bike & Scooter Safety Information for detailed information about these types of devices and the laws governing them.

VIDEO OF RIDERS