Mecklenburg County set a 20 mph speed limit on all county greenways Friday, Sept. 18. The rule covers the 2-mile Ballantyne Greenway and 85.5 miles of trails across the county, WSOC-TV reported.

The county said the limit is meant to keep the greenway system safe for everyone who walks, bikes or roller skates on the trails. The Ballantyne Greenway branches off the Lower McAlpine Creek Greenway and runs through Ballantyne Corporate Park, according to the Carolina Thread Trail.

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation also issued safety reminders: use extra caution on curves and in busy areas, avoid standing still on the trail, stay alert by wearing only one earphone instead of two, and keep pets on a short leash.

No fines have been announced. The county has not said how violations will be enforced or when a formal enforcement plan might follow.

Regional e-bike regulations

The greenway speed limit arrives amid a wave of local e-bike rules across the Charlotte region. Huntersville commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday, Sept. 16, to require helmets for e-bike riders under 18 and cap e-bike speeds at 28 mph, with a $50 fine for minors caught without a helmet. Huntersville Police Chief Brian Vaughn said at the town's Sept. 16 meeting, where commissioners adopted a separate e-bike ordinance, that education would come first.

"The piece of this that is important to us is the education piece," Vaughn said. "We really want to try to do that first, before we go to an enforcement posture."

Matthews adopted its own e-bike regulations Sept. 14. Waxhaw approved rules banning e-bikes from sidewalks, setting a 15 mph greenway speed limit and requiring helmets for riders under 16.

Charlotte has seen a 77% increase in e-bike accidents in 2026 compared with 2025, WBTV reported. In Ballantyne, the Waverly shopping center already bans e-bikes from its property, citing safety concerns for pedestrians, children and pets, according to its website.

No date has been announced for a follow-up review of the countywide speed limit or any formal enforcement rollout.