Fort Mitchell, Kentucky Considers Class 3 E-Bike Sidewalk Ban

Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Kristina

Fort Mitchell, Kentucky – July 20, 2026

Fort Mitchell, Kentucky officials are developing additional rules for electric bikes and e-scooters following complaints about riders using city sidewalks.

Mayor Greg Pohlgeers has said he supports prohibiting Class 3 e-bikes on sidewalks. However, the city is still researching its legal options, no completed ordinance has been released, and there is currently no announced timetable for a hearing or vote.

For a broader explanation of the rules that currently apply across the Commonwealth, see my Kentucky e-bike law guide. Riders traveling outside Kentucky can also use my State-by-State E-Bike Law Guide to compare classifications, sidewalk access, helmet requirements, and local restrictions.

Current status: Fort Mitchell is drafting additional or revised e-bike and e-scooter regulations. A Class 3 sidewalk prohibition has been discussed, but no final ordinance text, hearing date, vote date, penalties, or effective date has been announced.

What Fort Mitchell Officials Are Considering

Fort Mitchell’s official June 1 City Council minutes say the city has received numerous complaints about e-bikes being ridden on sidewalks.

The minutes record Pohlgeers’ support for prohibiting Class 3 e-bikes on city sidewalks while the administration conducts additional research. They also reflect the city’s concern that pedestrian safety should take priority when riders and walkers share a sidewalk.

According to local reporting published July 16, officials are reviewing two recently adopted Indiana ordinances as possible models. The specific Indiana ordinances and a completed Fort Mitchell proposal have not been publicly identified.

Fort Mitchell Already Has E-Bike and E-Scooter Rules

Fort Mitchell is not starting from zero. The city’s published Chapter 73 regulations already cover electric bicycles and electric scooters under the broader term “motor assisted vehicles.”

The current code includes several sidewalk operating requirements:

Current Fort Mitchell rule	What riders should know
Covered devices	The definition includes electric bicycles, electric scooters, and similar electric motor-assisted devices.
Sidewalk speed	Motor assisted vehicles may not exceed 15 mph on a sidewalk.
Pedestrians	Riders must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing.
Visibility	The code contains lighting requirements for riding after dark or during limited-visibility conditions.
Enforcement	A violation may result in a civil fine of up to $25 for each offense.

These provisions were adopted through Ordinance 2024-01 and appear in the city’s current published code.

That means the proposal under discussion appears to involve additional or revised restrictions rather than Fort Mitchell’s first regulation of e-bikes and e-scooters. Until draft language is released, it is not clear whether the city will amend Chapter 73, replace portions of it, or adopt a separate class-specific ordinance.

The Class 3 Definition Needs Careful Wording

The definition of a Class 3 e-bike is one of the most important details Fort Mitchell will need to clarify.

The June council minutes describe Class 3 e-bikes as having throttles and reaching at least 28 mph. That description does not match the standard three-class model used in Indiana, whose local ordinances Fort Mitchell is reportedly reviewing.

Under the official Indiana e-bike classification system:

• Class 1 provides assistance only while the rider is pedaling and stops providing assistance at 20 mph.
• Class 2 may use a throttle and stops providing motor assistance at 20 mph.
• Class 3 provides assistance only while the rider is pedaling and stops providing assistance at 28 mph. Indiana’s definition does not include a throttle.

Kentucky has not adopted its own statewide Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 e-bike definitions. Manufacturers may place class labels on their bikes, and local governments may refer to the three-class model, but Kentucky law does not currently provide one uniform statewide definition for those labels.

Fort Mitchell’s final ordinance should therefore define exactly what it means by “Class 3.” The wording should identify the maximum motor-assisted speed and explain whether the motor operates through pedal assistance, a throttle, or both.

Simply describing every Class 3 e-bike as throttle-equipped could create confusion for riders, retailers, and the police officers expected to enforce the ordinance. Readers who need a fuller explanation can review my guide to Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 e-bikes.

How Kentucky’s Sidewalk Rules Fit Into the Discussion

Kentucky has not adopted a statewide three-class e-bike system. Its bicycle-safety regulation says a bicycle may be operated on a sidewalk or crosswalk unless a law or local ordinance prohibits it.

Under that regulation, a bicyclist must yield to pedestrians and slow to the speed of an ordinary walk where pedestrians are present or reasonably expected. The rider must also slow near crosswalks, driveways, and other locations where vehicles may cross the sidewalk.

There is an important classification issue, however. The Kentucky regulation defines a bicycle as a device propelled primarily by human power. It does not expressly explain whether every throttle-equipped electric bike or higher-speed electric device falls within that definition.

Fort Mitchell’s local code is more explicit for city sidewalks because it separately includes electric bicycles and electric scooters within its motor assisted vehicle rules.

The city’s 15 mph sidewalk limit is a maximum, not a recommended passing speed around pedestrians. Riders should slow substantially, yield, signal before passing, and leave enough space to avoid frightening or endangering people walking nearby.

Kentucky law also preserves local authority to regulate how bicycles are operated, subject to controlling state law. That gives Fort Mitchell room to create more specific local operating rules, although the city will still need to define which devices and riders the ordinance covers.

For more general guidance, see my explanation of where e-bikes are allowed on sidewalks.

E-Scooters May Be Included in the New Ordinance

Fort Mitchell is also considering how electric scooters should be addressed.

The existing Chapter 73 definition already includes electric scooters. Any new ordinance will therefore need to explain which current scooter provisions are being retained, revised, or replaced.

Local reporting indicates that the city is examining e-bikes and e-scooters together, but no completed draft has been released. It remains unclear whether the city will use the same sidewalk rules for both devices or create different requirements based on speed, vehicle type, or rider age.

Who Would Be Affected?

A Class 3 sidewalk prohibition would most directly affect riders using pedal-assist e-bikes capable of providing motor assistance up to 28 mph under the standard three-class model.

Depending on the final wording, the ordinance could also affect:

• People riding Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes
• Owners of throttle-equipped electric bikes
• E-scooter riders
• Parents purchasing electric bikes or scooters for teenagers
• Residents who use sidewalks because nearby roads feel unsafe
• Pedestrians, including children, older adults, and people with disabilities
• Retailers explaining local rules to customers
• Police officers responsible for identifying and enforcing different vehicle classifications

No proposed ordinance text has been released, so it is not yet known whether Fort Mitchell will include exceptions, lower sidewalk speed limits, age requirements, revised equipment rules, new fines, or restrictions covering devices beyond Class 3 e-bikes.

Current Status and Timeline

As of July 20, 2026, Fort Mitchell is still researching and drafting possible changes.

The city has not announced:

• A completed ordinance number or publicly available draft
• A first-reading date
• A public hearing
• A final vote
• An effective date
• New fines or enforcement procedures

Until Fort Mitchell formally changes its code, riders should follow the current Chapter 73 requirements, applicable Kentucky law, posted signs, and any rules imposed by the owner or manager of a particular property.

How This Story Was Verified

This report is based on Fort Mitchell’s published municipal code, Ordinance 2024-01, the official June 1, 2026 City Council minutes, Kentucky statutes and administrative regulations, Indiana’s official e-bike class definitions, and reliable local reporting. No completed Fort Mitchell ordinance draft was publicly available when this article was prepared.

My Take

I understand why Fort Mitchell wants to address fast electric bikes on sidewalks. A rider moving close to 28 mph does not belong near pedestrians, especially on a narrow sidewalk with children, older walkers, driveways, and limited visibility.

My concern is that a rule based only on the words “Class 3” could become confusing in a state that does not formally define e-bike classes. Fort Mitchell’s current ordinance already uses the broader term “motor assisted vehicle,” while the council minutes used a throttle description that does not match Indiana’s Class 3 definition.

I think the final ordinance should clearly define the devices it covers, separate throttle speed from pedal-assisted speed, and explain how officers will identify a prohibited bike. The city should also make it clear that the existing 15 mph sidewalk maximum is not an appropriate passing speed when pedestrians are nearby.

A carefully written restriction on faster e-bikes could be reasonable. A vague rule would leave responsible riders unsure where they can ride and make consistent enforcement much more difficult.

This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. State and local e-bike rules can change. Confirm the current Fort Mitchell code and posted requirements before riding.

For more news on electric bikes click here

Sources

• Fort Mitchell Code of Ordinances – Chapter 73
• Fort Mitchell Ordinance 2024-01
• Fort Mitchell City Council Minutes – June 1, 2026
• Kentucky Revised Statutes 189.287
• Kentucky Administrative Regulation 601 KAR 14:020
• Kentucky Revised Statutes 189.289 – Electric Low-Speed Scooters
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources – E-Bike Rules
• LINK nky – Fort Mitchell Discusses Regulating E-Bikes and E-Scooters