West Linn passed new e-bike and e-scooter regulations in June 2026, and Lake Oswego police are drafting an ordinance that would shift the city's approach from education to enforcement.
The actions follow persistent complaints about underage riders and unsafe behavior in both cities. Business owners and residents have reported close calls involving e-bikes on McVey Avenue and Stafford Road, the Lake Oswego Review reported, though specific incidents were not detailed.
Specifics of West Linn's new regulations were not immediately available.
A statewide pattern
An unnamed Oregon City resident's concerns about children riding fast e-bikes near traffic and pedestrians were featured in a July 17 OregonLive story by reporter Alissa Gary examining Oregon's e-bike boom.
Schools across the state are banning e-bikes on campuses, new reporting tools are being developed, and state lawmakers are weighing additional regulations, according to the report.
Agencies across the region are working to manage crashes, complaints, and confusion over what qualifies as an e-bike versus an electric motorcycle, the OregonLive report noted.
National injury data
About 41% of all emergency room visits for e-bike injuries in 2024 and 2025 involved patients ages 10 to 19, according to National Electronic Injury Surveillance System estimates reported by Axios on July 7.
U.S. e-bike sales have more than quadrupled since roughly 2020, Axios reported.
Youth-oriented e-bike models are electronically limited to about 20 mph, but some riders illegally bypass those speed limiters, substantially increasing crash and injury risks.
No federal law regulates e-bike use, leaving states and local governments to write their own rules.
What Oregon law requires
Under Oregon law, riders must be at least 16 years old to operate an e-bike. E-bikes are never allowed on sidewalks under ORS 814.410, and riders must use a bike lane when one is adjacent to a roadway under ORS 814.420.
A helmet is not required for riders over 16, though the Lake Oswego Police Department recommends one.
A legal e-bike must have working pedals and an electric motor producing no more than 1,000 watts. It cannot exceed 20 mph on level ground without pedal assistance.
Anything faster or more powerful is classified as a moped and requires an Oregon driver's license.
Local enforcement history
The Lake Oswego Police Department launched e-bike-focused patrols in July 2023, citing a significant increase in unsafe behavior by young riders. Officers were directed to patrol areas with high e-bike traffic.
The department's official guidance page, updated in 2024, continues to emphasize the age requirement and sidewalk prohibition.
No timeline has been announced for Lake Oswego's draft e-bike ordinance to come before the city council.
How to report unsafe riding
Residents who witness dangerous e-bike behavior can contact their local police department's non-emergency line: Lake Oswego Police at 503-635-0238, West Linn Police at 503-655-6214, or Oregon City Police at 503-657-4964.
