Lake Oswego Review Published 5:00 am Wednesday, June 24, 2026
“Local residents are very concerned about the use of electric bikes and scooters in their community and want more enforcement, regulations and education, according to a survey conducted by The Review.
Over the last few years, neighbors have increasingly called the police about e-bike and e-scooters — especially kids — riding at high speeds, ignoring traffic laws, not wearing helmets and nearly causing accidents.
The legal age for e-bikes and most e-scooters is 16 years old, yet these laws are often ignored. E-scooters and e-bikes can generally travel up to 20 miles per hour, while e-motorcycles can travel at faster speeds.
In the survey, completed by more than 400 residents of Lake Oswego, West Linn, Wilsonville and beyond, respondents rated their level of safety when sharing the road with an e-bike or e-scooter as 3.19 out of 10 and nearly 70% of respondents assessed the adequacy of rules enforcement as a 1 out of 5. However, local police say they are working to address this issue and up public education.
Published 5:00 am Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Further, 59% of respondents said they see people riding unsafely every day.
“The rules are unknown to all, and the kids do many different things. Some are in the bike lanes, some in the road, some on the sidewalk. They are going all different speeds, some wearing helmets, some not,” a Lake Oswego resident said. “Some follow rules, others do not.”
“My young grandkids and I almost got hit by a boy riding his e-bike in front of the Safeway doors! Then we called him on it, he cursed at us and continued on in the sidewalk. Parents need to be held accountable if their under age children even illegally have these bikes!!! Most do not even look 16,” a West Linn resident said.
“Young riders (7-12) riding at excessive speeds and darting into traffic – common occurrence. Older riders (inexperienced) riding on sidewalks, wrong-side of the road, and at excessive speeds, IGNORANT of traffic rules, laws, and common sense,” a Wilsonville resident said.
The most common issues respondents cited included kids riding these vehicles despite being under the required age of 16 and riders ignoring traffic devices.
“Most of these kids look 12-14 years old (some I know attend middle school, since my kid goes there too). They ride unsafely around cars that would kill them if they make a wrong move. I’m thinking particularly about a group of kids who terrorize Bryant neighborhood and Lakeridge middle school,” a Lake Oswego resident said.
The majority of respondents called for increased patrols, more stringent regulation and more education.
“The solution should be trifold – public education to understand the laws, citing dangerous behavior, confiscating the scooters of underage riders and returning them to parents, and for use subsequent to a warning citing,” a Lake Oswego resident said.
“A law enforcement agency should sponsor free rider training workshops on bikes/scooters for children and adults alike, consisting of some classroom instruction followed by riding instruction,” a West Linn resident said.
While the Wilsonville Police Department said it has not had a major problem with these vehicles, one respondent said it should follow what other communities are doing to regulate them.
“Wilsonville needs to do what West Linn, Lake Oswego and Tualatin are doing with education and enforcement. This should be police enforcement, not code enforcement as Wilsonville does with many issues that never get resolved or addressed,” the Wilsonville resident said.
However, many people felt that the onus for preventing kids from riding unsafely lies with parents.
“In my experience, the parents know that it’s illegal but they continue to let their elementary aged kids ride, sometimes without a helmet and with another child on the scooter/bike. The parents know, they just don’t care because there hasn’t been consequences yet to themselves or anyone they know,” a West Linn resident said.
“I witness kids whizzing thru the stop sign on my street and at high rates of speed. And often see kids with passengers! Parents need to be fined,” a Lake Oswego resident said.
Not everyone was as worried about these vehicles, however.
“Lighten up! The majority of kids using e-bikes are obeying the rules. Let’s not punish everyone because of a few bad apples,” a Lake Oswego resident said.
Despite the overarching concerns, many respondents saw some benefits from electric bikes and scooters — particularly enhanced mobility and an alternative way to get around and positive impacts on the climate as compared to gas-powered vehicles.
“Lake Oswego is challenging for kids to get around by foot – very hilly and some limited sidewalks, they add a layer of independence for teens. But they should only be used by teens, not children!” a Lake Oswego resident said.
Eighty-percent of respondents said they don’t own an e-bike.”
Lake Oswego Review Published 5:00 am Wednesday, June 24, 2026
