Charlotte is writing new e-bike rules as injuries among young riders spike across the country and in local neighborhoods.

Waverly, the Ballantyne-area shopping center off Rea Road, already bans e-bikes, e-scooters, hoverboards and skateboards on its property, citing speeds that can top 35 mph. Violators risk a one-year ban for their entire family. The city may soon follow with broader regulations.

Charlotte City Council member Dante Anderson, who chairs the Safety Committee, said the committee has heard from residents worried about young people riding e-bikes and other electric vehicles in traffic. Anderson said the city is examining whether new regulations are needed, including rules that better distinguish traditional pedal-assist e-bikes from faster electric motorcycles.

"We're happy to see that kids want to be outside enjoying the outdoors. That's great to see," Anderson told WCNC. "We just want to make sure that they're doing it safely."

The Safety Committee tackled possible e-bike restrictions at its Aug. 4 meeting and instructed police to draft new rules, Charlotte Newsroom reported. No timeline for a vote has been announced.

The push comes as AAA launched its E-Ride Ready campaign on Monday, Aug. 31. AAA said emergency room visits for e-bike and e-scooter injuries among children and teens have increased more than 600% in the last three years. Head and neck injuries are among the most common.

Adults are getting hurt too. An April 2026 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report found emergency-department visits tied to micromobility products rose from an estimated 37,300 in 2017 to 149,100 in 2024. Over that span, CPSC recorded at least 533 deaths, with annual fatalities climbing from five in 2017 to 135 in 2024, according to AAA's announcement.

Dr. Justin Cirone, a trauma surgeon at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, said in AAA's announcement that e-bike and scooter crashes are producing severe head injuries, broken bones and other trauma requiring surgery or lengthy rehabilitation. Cirone stressed that helmets, supervision and knowing how to operate the devices can prevent life-changing injuries.

Under North Carolina law, there is no minimum age for e-bike riders. Riders of Class 3 e-bikes under 18 must wear helmets. E-bikes are allowed wherever bicycles can ride, and sidewalk riding is permitted unless a local government restricts it.

Charlotte also runs a Community Access Program (CAP) that partners with Bird and Lime for shared e-scooters and e-bikes. That program includes speed limits, no-sidewalk-riding zones and designated no-parking areas.

AAA advises parents to learn what type of device their child rides, understand its speed capabilities and ensure proper protective gear. North Carolina sets no minimum age for riders, and no date has been set for the city's next step on new regulations.