Lake Oswego riders under 16 could legally hit city streets and sidewalks as early as 2027, and the city wants enforceable rules in place before that happens.
The city has formally identified Ordinance 2980 as its plan for regulating e-bikes and other micromobility devices, according to a new information page posted by the Lake Oswego Police Department. The proposed ordinance would amend Chapter 32 of the city code with four components: clear definitions of covered devices, rules for where they may be operated, guidance distinguishing safe from unsafe use, and accountability measures for device owners who allow misuse.
The push follows Oregon House Bill 4007, passed during the 2026 legislative session, which will lower the minimum operating age for powered micromobility devices from 16 to 14 starting in 2027. The city said it expects the age change to bring even more users onto local streets and sidewalks.
Education campaigns fell short
The city acknowledged on its information page that education campaigns raised awareness but have not measurably reduced unauthorized or unsafe use.
That admission marks a shift from the awareness-first approach the Lake Oswego Police Department took when it launched e-bike-focused patrols in July 2023.
The problem hasn't gone away. A July 15 police log entry in the Lake Oswego Review reported kids on e-bikes traveling 40 mph on State Street near Foothills Road, more than double the legal 20 mph cap. Business owners and residents have reported close calls on McVey Avenue and Stafford Road, according to the Lake Oswego Review.
About 41% of all emergency room visits for e-bike injuries in 2024 and 2025 involved patients ages 10 to 19, according to federal injury surveillance data reported by Axios in July 2026.
What HB 4007 does
The state law creates a new legal category called "powered micromobility device," defined as a vehicle with a propulsion system, a maximum speed of 28 mph, and an unloaded weight under 100 pounds. E-bikes are explicitly excluded from this new category but remain subject to existing Oregon law barring them from sidewalks.
Critically for Lake Oswego, HB 4007 authorizes local governments to prohibit or regulate powered micromobility devices on bicycle lanes, paths, sidewalks, and trails. That provision gives the city legal footing to enforce Ordinance 2980 once adopted.
Not a ban
The city framed the ordinance as a safety measure, not a prohibition, stating its goal is responsible use in public spaces. As we reported July 20, neighboring West Linn passed its own e-bike and e-scooter regulations in June 2026, making Lake Oswego one of several Clackamas County communities tightening micromobility rules.
No council vote date or public hearing schedule for Ordinance 2980 has been announced. The city's page says it will post proposed ordinance language, state law updates, and other resources as the process moves forward.
