Samuel Black
Mackinac Island, situated in Michigan, is once again bustling with tourists, but the recent e-bike fire at an employee dormitory has raised concerns about the safety and regulation of electric bikes. As the island prepares for the enforcement crackdown on e-bikes, authorities are clarifying the rules and limitations surrounding these devices.
Mackinac Island Police Chief Doug Topolski emphasised that there is a clear distinction between e-bikes and pedal-assist bicycles. Last year, around 75 e-bikes were either ticketed or impounded on the island. Chief Topolski underscored that the island allows pedal-assist bikes as a reasonable accommodation for individuals with mobility disabilities. However, he emphasised that bikes equipped with throttles, which essentially function as electric motorcycles, are not permitted on the island.
While the police have jurisdiction on the streets, Chief Topolski explained that they lack authority over e-bike batteries stored in private houses. This issue gained prominence following a recent fire at a Grand Hotel-owned employee dormitory, where battery storage was prohibited by the hotel’s policies. Chief Topolski expressed concern about the dangers associated with storing e-bike batteries in old wooden buildings, urging both residents and businesses to prioritise safety.
In an effort to prevent throttle bikes from entering the island, Chief Topolski sought assistance from the ferry lines. Shepler’s, one of the major ferry companies, acknowledged their role in informing passengers about the regulations but stated that they do not anticipate implementing comprehensive policy changes. Guests who choose to disregard the regulations and insist on bringing throttle bikes are allowed to board, as Shepler’s does not engage in law enforcement duties.
As the start-of-season grace period draws to a close in approximately 10 days, Mackinac Island will begin implementing stricter enforcement measures. The focus remains on ensuring the safety of residents, visitors, and historic structures while striking a balance between accommodating individuals with mobility disabilities and maintaining control over e-bike usage on the island.
The e-bike industry has been growing rapidly in recent years, with more and more people opting for electric bikes as a convenient and eco-friendly mode of transportation. According to market forecasts, the global e-bike market is expected to reach a value of $38.6 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.1% from 2019 to 2025.
However, the incident at the Mackinac Island employee dormitory has highlighted some of the safety concerns associated with e-bikes. One of the main issues is the distinction between e-bikes and pedal-assist bicycles. While pedal-assist bikes are allowed on the island as a reasonable accommodation for individuals with mobility disabilities, bikes equipped with throttles, which function more like electric motorcycles, are not permitted.
To address these concerns, authorities on Mackinac Island are clarifying the rules and limitations surrounding e-bikes. The police have taken measures to enforce the regulations, ticketing and impounding around 75 e-bikes last year. However, they do not have jurisdiction over e-bike batteries stored in private houses, which has raised concerns about the safe storage of these batteries, particularly in older wooden buildings.
In an effort to prevent throttle bikes from entering the island, the Mackinac Island Police Chief has sought assistance from the ferry lines. While the ferry companies acknowledge their role in informing passengers about the regulations, they do not anticipate implementing comprehensive policy changes. This means that guests who choose to disregard the regulations and bring throttle bikes are still allowed to board the ferries.
As the start-of-season grace period comes to an end, stricter enforcement measures will be implemented on Mackinac Island. The authorities are focused on ensuring the safety of residents, visitors, and historic structures, while also striking a balance between accommodating individuals with mobility disabilities and maintaining control over e-bike usage on the island.
For more information on e-bike safety and regulations, you can visit ebikesafety.com.
