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The Ballwin Board of Aldermen took up an increasingly urgent issue at its June 8 meeting: regulating e-bikes and electric motorcycles in the St. Louis area.
Police Chief John Bergfeld’s pre-meeting staff report documented that the department receives nearly daily inquiries about these vehicles operating on city streets and sidewalks.
“Between January and June 2026, Ballwin recorded five collisions between motor vehicles and e-bikes or electric motorcycles,” the report notes. “In all incidents, the e-bike or e-motorcycle operator disregarded traffic regulations by entering roadways, intersections or crosswalks without verifying safety. The good news is that injuries sustained were generally minor.”
Existing Ballwin ordinances inadequately regulate these vehicles, according to the report. The police department is urging the board to authorize creation of new regulations governing their operation.
The staff report recommends that updated ordinances address these key areas:
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Create clear definitions and classifications for electric bicycles, electric scooters, motorized bicycles, electric motorcycles and comparable devices.
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Set a minimum age of 16 for operating class 3 e-bikes (pedal-assist and throttle-enabled bicycles with a 28 mph pedal-assist speed ceiling and 20 mph throttle speed limit).
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Mandate class 3 e-bikes be ridden on roadways only and banned from sidewalks, multi-use trails and parks.
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Ban electric motorcycles and Razor-style minibikes from public roads and parks.
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Ban gas-powered minibikes and go-carts from roads, sidewalks and parks.
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Require protective headgear for operators and riders under 17.
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Establish age limits, registration requirements and licensing as mandated by state regulations.
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Ban unsafe riding, vehicle towing and use on others’ property without authorization.
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Set enforcement protocols and penalties for breaking the ordinance.
“We’ve brought up this concern before about the motor bikes, e-bikes, scooters and everything happening with our youth and adults,” Shannon Schaper, Ballwin’s Public Information Officer, explained. “After examining our current ordinance, we found it was too vague. We studied what Manchester and Town & Country are doing—communities similar to ours—along with Ellisville. It’s critical that our rules match neighboring cities; we can’t have activities that are prohibited here but legal across Manchester Road. Consistency across all municipalities is essential.”
Schaper emphasized that strong helmet requirements are necessary for public safety.
City Administrator Eric Sterman noted that neighboring cities are progressing at different rates on this matter.
“This topic has come up frequently lately with fellow administrators and law enforcement, and every municipality is grappling with it. These devices barely existed when original ordinances were created, and there’s substantial confusion about classifications—what defines an e-bike,” Sterman explained. “We have class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes. Some have pedals, some don’t, some feature motors. The rapid emergence of these devices has outpaced our regulatory framework.”
Schaper highlighted a critical safety concern: most young riders lack knowledge of standard traffic laws, particularly regarding stop and yield signs.
Police Cpt. Curt Saitta proposed that operators of these vehicles on roadways should carry a valid driver’s license. This could also create a framework for requiring liability coverage comparable to automobile insurance.
“These devices have numerous complications,” Saitta noted. “I’ve encountered operators traveling faster than 30 mph, equipped with fake registration plates. Notably, many had suspended licenses due to drunk driving charges. Additionally, e-bikes are becoming problematic for youth because they technically require pedals to qualify as e-bikes. Ultimately, parents bear responsibility—they purchase these vehicles for their children without ensuring they understand how to operate and brake them safely.”
Ward 4 Alderman Jim Lehmkuhl mentioned that the Parks Board recently discussed this issue. He noted concerns about youngsters riding through parks and even onto the golf course, causing costly destruction.
Multiple aldermen concurred that any new ordinances must include consequences for youth violators and their parents.
Playing the role of skeptic, Ward 4 Alderman David Siegel presented an alternative perspective.
“Let’s not discourage youth from outdoor activities. Moving forward, we should ensure balanced enforcement while educating children and their parents,” Siegel stated. “While safety matters, we shouldn’t further restrict children from being outside. We’ve already done too much of that in recent years.”
The board voted to have City Attorney Kyle Cronin prepare the proposed legislation.
