Matthews, North Carolina Adopts New E-Bike and E-Moto Rules

MATTHEWS, North Carolina – September 21, 2026: The Matthews Board of Commissioners has adopted new rules for e-bikes, e-motos, electric scooters, and other powered devices, setting clearer requirements for where different types of vehicles may be ridden and how violations will be handled.

The ordinance was approved on September 14, 2026, and the town says its initial focus will be education, awareness, and voluntary compliance. Riders can also review Electric Bike Explorer’s state-by-state e-bike law guide and follow the latest electric bike news and local rule changes.

Current Status: Matthews Adopted the New Rules

The Matthews Board of Commissioners approved the regulations at its September 14 meeting. The town announced the new ordinance publicly on September 17 and published rider-focused guidance explaining the different device categories and where each may be operated.

The rules apply not only to conventional electric bicycles but also to personal conveyance vehicles, mopeds, motorcycles, and electric devices that may look like e-bikes but fall into another legal category.

What Counts as an E-Bike in Matthews?

Under the Matthews ordinance, an electric-assisted bicycle must have two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, a seat or saddle, and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts.

Matthews recognizes three e-bike classes:

• Class 1: The motor assists only while the rider pedals and stops assisting at 20 mph.
• Class 2: The motor may propel the bike without pedaling but stops assisting at 20 mph.
• Class 3: The motor assists only while the rider pedals and stops assisting at 28 mph.

For riders who are unsure what those classifications mean, Electric Bike Explorer’s guide to Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 e-bikes explains the differences in plain English.

Where E-Bikes Can Be Ridden in Matthews

The ordinance allows bicycles and qualifying e-bikes on roadways and greenways, subject to applicable traffic and local rules.

Sidewalk riding is allowed in several situations. Riders age 16 or younger may use sidewalks, as may adults accompanying riders age 16 or younger. Sidewalk riding is also allowed when the sidewalk is designated as a Shared Use Path at least 8 feet wide, or when the adjacent roadway has a posted speed limit of 25 mph or higher.

When bicycles or e-bikes are ridden on sidewalks or Shared Use Paths, riders must use due care and yield to pedestrians. Reckless riding is prohibited, and the ordinance sets a maximum speed of 20 mph for bicycles and e-bikes on sidewalks and Shared Use Paths.

E-Motos, Mopeds, and Motorcycles Face Different Rules

One of the town’s main messages is that not every electric two-wheeler that looks like an e-bike is legally treated as an e-bike.

The Matthews ordinance contains separate rules for mopeds, motorcycles, personal conveyance vehicles, and higher-speed electric devices. Mopeds may not be operated by anyone younger than 16 and must comply with applicable registration and insurance requirements.

Mopeds and motorcycles may not be operated on sidewalks, public pathways, or Shared Use Paths, including greenways. The ordinance also prohibits them in town-owned areas not intended for vehicle travel, including certain park areas, common spaces, ball fields, picnic areas, play areas, and mountain bike trails.

The Ordinance Contains a Higher-Speed Classification Provision

Matthews’ ordinance also contains a separate provision addressing electric-assisted bicycles capable of higher motor-powered speeds.

That section says an electric-assisted bicycle capable of a top motor-powered speed above 20 mph but below 30 mph is treated as a moped for purposes of the local ordinance, while a device capable of a motor-powered speed above 30 mph is treated as a motorcycle.

At the same time, the ordinance separately recognizes Class 3 e-bikes as pedal-assist bicycles whose motor assistance stops at 28 mph. Because those provisions can appear to overlap, this article does not assume that every Class 3 e-bike is automatically treated as a moped.

The distinction may depend on how a particular device is designed, how its motor provides power, whether it has been modified, and how town officials apply the ordinance. Riders using higher-speed or modified electric bikes should confirm how their specific device is classified before assuming ordinary e-bike access rules apply.

Electric Scooters and Other Personal Conveyance Vehicles

Matthews also created rules for what it calls personal conveyance vehicles, or PCVs. This category includes devices such as electric scooters, skateboards, and hoverboards capable of speeds of no more than 20 mph.

PCVs may be used on a roadway only when the posted speed limit is 25 mph or less. The ordinance provides several sidewalk exceptions similar to those for bicycles and e-bikes.

PCVs may not be operated on public streets, sidewalks, or Shared Use Paths before sunrise or after sunset.

Nighttime Equipment Rules for E-Bikes

Bicycles and e-bikes used at night must have a white front light visible from at least 500 feet and a red rear reflector visible from 50 to 300 feet.

A red rear light visible from 500 feet may also be used in addition to the reflector.

Violations Can Bring Warnings and Civil Fines

Matthews says its initial approach will emphasize education, awareness, and voluntary compliance, but the ordinance also establishes escalating civil citations.

For owners who knowingly operate or allow a bicycle, e-bike, PCV, moped, motorcycle, or other covered vehicle to be operated in violation of Chapter 105, the ordinance provides:

• First offense: Warning
• Second offense: $100 civil citation
• Third and subsequent offenses: $200 civil citation

Certain violations involving state registration or financial-responsibility requirements for mopeds, motorcycles, or other vehicles may also carry consequences under North Carolina law.

North Carolina’s State E-Bike Law Changes December 1

Matthews adopted its local ordinance before a separate statewide e-bike law change takes effect.

North Carolina Session Law 2026-46 was signed on July 7, 2026. The e-bike provisions in Section 19 are scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2026.

Beginning on that date, North Carolina law will formally establish Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 electric bicycle definitions statewide. The law will also expressly allow municipalities to regulate electric bicycles on sidewalks and multiuse paths.

Matthews already uses the three-class framework in its local ordinance, but riders should keep the timing distinction in mind: the town’s adopted rules are already in place, while the new statewide e-bike provisions take effect December 1.

Another North Carolina Town Has Also Added Local Rules

Matthews is not the only North Carolina community addressing electric-bike use locally. Earlier this year, Electric Bike Explorer reported on new e-bike rules adopted in Holly Springs, North Carolina following local safety concerns.

The two ordinances are not identical, but both show why riders need to check the rules for the specific town, greenway, sidewalk, or park where they plan to ride.

What Matthews Riders and Parents Should Know

The biggest takeaway is to identify the device before deciding where it can legally be ridden.

A conventional Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 e-bike is treated differently from an electric scooter, moped, motorcycle, or higher-speed electric device. A bike’s pedals, motor rating, operating speed, motor behavior, and any modifications can all affect which rules apply.

Parents should pay particular attention to devices marketed to teenagers that resemble electric bicycles but may legally fall into another vehicle category because of their design, speed, or motor operation.

📰 How This Story Was Verified

This report is based on the Town of Matthews’ adopted Chapter 105 ordinance, official town guidance, and North Carolina Session Law 2026-46. I have separated the town’s current adopted rules from statewide e-bike provisions that are scheduled to take effect December 1, 2026, and I have noted where the local ordinance contains classification language that may require case-specific interpretation.

Sources

Town of Matthews – E-Bike & E-Moto Safety

Town of Matthews – Chapter 105 Regulation of Bicycles, E-Bikes, and Personal Conveyance Vehicles

North Carolina Session Law 2026-46