As electric scooters and e-bikes become more common across Sioux County communities, local law enforcement agencies and city leaders are emphasizing safety, education, and awareness this summer.
Officials across the county say they are seeing more riders on trails, sidewalks, and streets as school lets out and warmer weather arrives. While many communities say the devices provide a fun and efficient way to get around, concerns have also grown surrounding speed, pedestrian safety, traffic awareness, and confusion over what types of electric vehicles are legal.
Deputy Jessica Dorhout with the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says many of the concerns center around excessive speed and a lack of safety precautions.
“So I think some of the bigger ones that we see where we’re seeing injuries caused is through the excessive speed, right? That we’re not, I’m wearing our safety measures like a helmet, uh, and just not paying attention and, and just going way too fast.”
Dorhout said parents play a major role in teaching children how to safely operate scooters and e-bikes, including obeying stop signs, yielding to pedestrians, avoiding passengers, and staying off phones while riding.
Sioux Center Focuses on Trail Safety and Education
Sioux Center officials recently released detailed guidance regarding electric bikes and scooters as usage continues to increase throughout the community’s trail and sidewalk system.
City officials say most electric bikes and scooters are allowed on trails and sidewalks if they comply with state law and follow proper trail etiquette. Electric scooters are generally regulated as pedestrians, while e-bikes are regulated as bicycles.
Sioux Center Police Officer Kyle Munneke says one of the biggest misconceptions involves the difference between legal e-bikes and higher-powered electric dirt bikes.
“So when you get to a class three, that would require you to be sixteen years of age. Um, since it goes a little bit faster than the class one and class two, um, they’re all restricted to the seven hundred and fifty watt amount, which cannot be altered.”
Munneke explained that electric dirt bikes and similar motorized vehicles without functional pedals are regulated as motorcycles rather than bicycles or scooters, meaning they require registration, licensing, and street-legal equipment.
Sioux Center’s guidance breaks e-bikes into three classes:
Class 1: Pedal-assist only, assistance stops at 20 MPH
Class 2: Pedal and throttle-assisted, max speed of 20 MPH
Class 3: Pedal and throttle-assisted, assistance stops at 28 MPH; riders must be at least 16 years old
City officials say electric dirt bikes or motorcycles with motors larger than 750 watts or speeds above 28 MPH are not allowed on trails.
Police Chief Josh Koedam says officers have observed riders entering intersections and roadways without slowing down or checking for traffic.
“There’s been some observations on my part as far as seeing e-scooters, e-bikes zipping from one road onto another without looking both ways, without being vigilant of motor vehicles and others around them.”
Officials are encouraging riders to:
•Stay to the right on trails
•Pass on the left
•Announce themselves before passing pedestrians
•Keep speeds reasonable
•Obey trail stop signs
•Use crosswalks and make eye contact with drivers
Sioux Center Police and the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office are also partnering with Culver’s this summer to reward children spotted wearing helmets with free ice cream vouchers.
Orange City Addresses Uptown Sidewalk Concerns
In Orange City, officials say the biggest concern has been scooter and e-bike activity in busy uptown areas.
Orange City Police Chief Jim Pottebaum says officers have seen a noticeable increase in electric scooters and e-bikes throughout the community.
“I think we need to do be more aggressive on telling them that they can’t be on the sidewalks uptown because there’s a lot of people that, you know, they go in and out of the front doors and they’re just right there.”
Pottebaum said he does not currently view e-bikes as a major problem communitywide, but says the uptown district has become an area of concern due to increased pedestrian traffic.
Orange City ordinances prohibit riding electric scooters on sidewalks within portions of the downtown business district and include additional operational requirements.
The ordinance also includes:
•Daylight-only operation in certain cases
•Restrictions on passengers
•Requirement to obey traffic laws
•Potential penalties for violations
Rock Valley Taking Education-First Approach
Rock Valley Police Chief Monte Warburton says his department received numerous complaints related to scooters and e-bikes last year, although awareness among residents has improved over time.
Warburton says the city is trying to focus on education and safety before considering additional ordinances.
“What we’re trying to do, we’ve taken the approach right now is we’re trying to push like safety rules, like just getting the kids to try to think about what they’re doing.”
Warburton said the rapid development of new electric devices has created challenges for law enforcement and parents alike, particularly with the emergence of electric dirt bikes capable of traveling at highway speeds.
He encouraged parents to discuss rules of the road with their children and reminded riders that scooters and bikes are at a disadvantage when sharing roads with vehicles.
Hawarden Reminds Residents of Existing Ordinance
The City of Hawarden is also reminding residents about its existing electric scooter ordinance as summer activity increases.
Under the ordinance, scooters are prohibited from certain streets and portions of the business district except when crossing intersections. Violations can result in scooters being impounded for up to 30 days.
Mayor Larry Gregg says riders should also remember several basic safety expectations while operating scooters around town.
“Keep two hands on the handlebars. No speeding, zigzagging or stunts. No more than two scooters side by side. Riders must yield to other pedestrians. Riders must not impede the flow of traffic.”
Gregg also noted that scooters operated between sunset and sunrise must have headlamps.
Across Sioux County, officials say the overall message remains simple: ride responsibly, follow the rules of the road, and help ensure everyone gets home safely this summer.
