Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor | Be careful on those electric dirt bikes
I’m seeing more kids riding mini-electric dirt bikes around town, and I’m concerned that it’s just a matter of time before one of these kids gets seriously hurt or killed. The kids I have seen riding these motorbikes look to be about middle school age, and some are riding without helmets on busy streets, even after dark. One boy was seen doing a wheelie down Harborview in the middle of town. Let’s face it, kids this age don’t always use the best judgment. And their parents may be unaware or the law or their child’s actions. If there is an accident and a car is involved, the driver may be just as traumatized as the child’s family.
There may be some confusion about whether these dirt bikes are street legal or maybe considered e-bikes. They are not. They are intended for offroad use, and are not allowed on streets, sidewalks, or in most parks. E-bikes must have functional pedals, a motor not exceeding 750 watts, and a top speed not over 20 or 28 mph. Under state law electric dirt bikes are considered mopeds, and are subject to the same licensing, safety equipment, and helmet laws as motorcycles and scooters. To be ridden on streets, the rider must have a valid motorcycle license, and the motorbike must have lights, mirrors, a license plate, etc, just like a motorcycle. Like motorcycles, they are not allowed on sidewalks.
For more on this, see RCW 46.04.169, RCW 46.61.710, and RCW 46.04.304. There are also a number of scooter websites that explain the rules in our state.
Jim Wellman
Gig Harbor