SURF CITY — Surf City is expected to become among the few municipalities in the tri-county region to implement an e-bike ordinance as the town prepares for state legislation to take root.
The town held a community meeting with approximately 40 attendees Monday night to educate residents on e-bikes and give them the opportunity to share their thoughts on what municipal regulations should look like.
Considerations for regulations include speed limits, enforcement of rules, rights-of-way stipulations and limitations on what transportation devices can be used on certain pathways.
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Surf City aims to have an e-bike ordinance enacted by the end of the year, which aligns with the state law that passed in July and set to go into effect in December.
House Bill 1094, sponsored by Representative Frank Iler (R-Brunswick) — similar to S.B. 970, sponsored by Senator Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) — defines an e-bike as a bicycle with two to three wheels, has a seat for a rider, operable pedals and an electric motor not exceeding 750 watts.
Furthermore, the law breaks e-bikes into three classifications:
- Class 1 – Motor assists only when the rider is pedaling and stops at 20 miles per hour
- Class 2 – Motor does not require pedaling to move the bike and stops at 20 miles per hour
- Class 3 – Motor assists only when the rider is pedaling and stops at 28 miles per hour
The law mandates anyone under 18 — operating or riding a Class 3 e-bike — must wear a helmet.
E-bikes are allowed by law on roadways, bicycle lanes and multi-use paths unless otherwise banned by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources — such as in state parks or at historical sites.
The bill does not restrict or repeal a local government’s authority to regulate the use of e-bikes. Town Administration Assistant Amy Hubbard says the legislation was helpful to Surf City as it created clear definitions on what an e-bike is and what classifications they apply to. Classifications pave the way for targeted regulations, such as tailored helmet regulations, speed limits, and use restrictions to a specific class of e-bike.
“That gave us something to work with and then for them to give the towns power to regulate that on their own multi-use path is important to us because we know our citizens want to have that input, and especially on speed and things like that,” Hubbard said.
While some municipalities disallow e-bikes in parks, beaches and sidewalks, Surf City will become the first town in Pender County to have an e-bike ordinance.
Port City Daily asked the town what restrictions and stipulations the drafted ordinance includes so far but did not hear back by press.
Surf City was working on the ordinance prior to state law passing; however, the town wants to push it through by December due to a section of its multi-use path nearing completion.
The 19.2-mile project is broken down into nine segments and will connect the mainland to the island, while also extending to both ends of Topsail Island. The original feasibility study for the project had a projected cost of more than $53 million, although it only encompassed 16 miles. The town did not respond to Port City Daily with the total cost or how it is being funded by press.
Monday, residents were updated on the status of sections one, five and seven. They are closest to construction or completion.
The 0.98-mile stretch from Roland Avenue to Dolphin Street — by North Shore Drive and parallel to many beach front blocks — will be finished by the end of the year. The path costs $667,216 with payment coming from the town’s accommodation tax fund.
The path was prioritized as it could be constructed in coordination with ongoing waterline improvements in the area.
Town Manager Kyle Breuer noted the town needs to ensure safety for everyone utilizing the new paths.
“As we move from planning the network to building it, we also need to prepare for how people will use and safely share it,” Breuer told everyone in attendance Monday night.
Two segments are close to construction. Segment one runs along Highway 210 and extends from an existing path at Magnolia Reserve to the Surf City Mainland Fire Department. It’s 75% completed and prepared for review. The town doesn’t have a cost for this yet.
Segment five is estimated to be $979,300 with construction beginning this fall. The path will be along J.H. Batts Road, with the path ending at Community Drive near the Surf City Community Center.
Construction for the segments are also based on connectivity — by completing segment one and seven, the island and mainland will be connected which is why they were prioritized.
Hubbard told Port City Daily Monday a multi-use path committee was created in 2024 and shared as the completion of segment seven neared, a subcommittee of around five people began to write a draft ordinance for the use of the paths, including e-bikes.
“Five people don’t know all the ins and outs,” Hubbard said when explaining why it was important to bring the issue to the community. “We don’t know what people face out there every day where they live. What are their concerns? What do they think when they encounter e-bikes and things on the path?”
At Monday’s meeting, community members were able to rotate among six stations to give feedback on who can use a multi-use pathway, who has the right of way, what safe use and enforcement would look like, what paths devices such as e-bikes, traditional bicycles, golf carts and skate boards belong on, and what a proper speed limit would be.
Carl Smith, a Surf City resident, said the multi-use path is a great way to access the town in ways you can’t safely access by roadway. However, he does foresee possible issues arising from e-bikes.
“There’s a lot of kids who have not just e-bikes, but e-motor bikes that can go up to 30, 40 miles per hour,” Smith said. “How are we going to police that?”
Smith imagined signage would have to be aplenty.
He added people are already using e-bikes and motor bikes in neighborhoods and on roadways, putting themselves and others in danger. He pointed out pedestrians may have on headphones and not hear an e-bike coming or step in the wrong direction at the wrong time, resulting in an accident.
“God forbid you were to strike someone,” Smith said.
The town’s discussions surrounding e-bikes come after an increase in injuries, accidents and fatalities. “Micromobility” devices such as e-bikes, hoverboards, and e-scooters, injuries have been on the rise in recent years. A 2023 report completed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission cited a 23% annual increase since 2017. Out of the injuries that occurred between 2017 and 2022, 46% happened in 2022.
Within the tri-county region, there have been several recent e-bike accidents. In April, a 24-year-old passed away after reportedly failing to yield while driving an e-bike in Wilmington’s Monkey Junction.
In August, a 19-year-old pleaded guilty after hitting a 5-year-old with an e-bike in April 2025 in Smith Creek Park, also in Wilmington.
Another August accident included a 14-year-old e-biker injured after turning in front of a car in Wilmington. The teen faces charges of no operator’s license, no insurance, no helmet, no motorcycle enforcement, failure to yield and failure to register. The parents are charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a vehicle, allowing operation of a vehicle without insurance and allowing operation of an unregistered vehicle.
Port City Daily reached out to Surf City Police Department and town about e-bike use and accidents within the town but did not receive an answer by press.
To encourage safety and ensure enforcement of any ordinance, Surf City residents suggested requiring riders to dismount at crosswalks, not allowing those under 13-years-old to ride an e-bike without an adult present, requiring e-bikes to be registered with the police department, seizing e-bikes of repeat offenders and instating fees when regulations are broken.
Community feedback gathered Monday will be submitted to the multi-use path committee on Friday. An ordinance will be presented to the town council during their November or December meeting.
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