Marion Iowa Considers Speed Limits for E-Bikes

[AlanDB]

My city is considering speed limits for electric bikes and scooters; 10 MPH on sidewalks, 15 MPH on trails. While I don't have an objection to speed limits, I think they should apply to all bikes, not just e-bikes. I normally cruise the trails in the 11 to 18 MPH range, so I could easily adapt to this rule. In my experience though, I am seldom passed by another e-bike rider. It is not uncommon however for a spandex wearing road bike rider to go whizzing by at 25 MPH or more, often gesturing disapproval of my slow pace. I also suspect that that this rule will be difficult to enforce.

https://www.kcrg.com/2026/02/04/marion-considers-new-speed-limits-e-bikes-scooters

 

[harryS]

We have no speed limits on our local trails, but the forest preserve trails in Chicago and the inner suburbs have a 15 mph limit for ALL bikes. I ride those paths twice a year, and it's no hardship, Most people are around that speed. Without a speedo, how would they know anyway, A few are noticeably faster.

Anything can be enforced. They can sit around a bkind corner with a radar gun,

 

[Chargeride]

All these news reports call emotorcycles ebikes, every single one.
They are mass gaslighting the public for more restrictions and control.

Its low hanging fruit for the evil ones, and tbh its our own fault for being so easily led by simplistic hypnosis

 

[harryS]

You have a bigger problem in Iowa than a 15 mph limit. A new bill introduced in Iowa would only allow cars, trucks and motorcycles to use public roads.

https://who13.com/news/new-bike-restrictions-proposed-in-iowa-drawing-strong-reactions/

 

[sc00ter]

My state can't control the speed limits set for cars. I'm doing 65mph in a 55 zone and I'm getting past like I'm sitting still. You really think someone will actually check bikes? I don't. Someone mentioned that most of these ebike rules are cash grabs, and I think for the most part they are. So, until my state gets the groups of "Street Life" clowns riding old and slow dirt bikes illegally on public roads and getting the excessive speeding under control I'm not worrying about it.

 

[Chargeride]

You have a bigger problem in Iowa than a 15 mph limit. A new bill introduced in Iowa would only allow cars, trucks and motorcycles to use public roads.

https://who13.com/news/new-bike-restrictions-proposed-in-iowa-drawing-strong-reactions/

Yup, saw that one.
I would be fine with that if there were 100% continuous usable ebike friendly paths to back it up.

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

My city is considering speed limits for electric bikes and scooters; 10 MPH on sidewalks, 15 MPH on trails. While I don't have an objection to speed limits, I think they should apply to all bikes, not just e-bikes. I normally cruise the trails in the 11 to 18 MPH range, so I could easily adapt to this rule. In my experience though, I am seldom passed by another e-bike rider. It is not uncommon however for a spandex wearing road bike rider to go whizzing by at 25 MPH or more, often gesturing disapproval of my slow pace. I also suspect that that this rule will be difficult to enforce.

https://www.kcrg.com/2026/02/04/marion-considers-new-speed-limits-e-bikes-scooters

I ride on trails and sidewalks most of the time as the road has become just too dangerous in the area in which I live. While there are the occasional knuckleheads blasting around at dopey speeds on crowded walkways and trails on e-scooters and e-bikes I find that guys on road bikes are a real hazard. You can’t hear them coming and they seem to think that skimming by at 50kph, 3/4” off your elbow is perfectly acceptable. At least the young doofus on a hotrodded e-bike keeps his distance when passing.

 

[harryS]

There are some hard core cyclists that will ride streets near me with 45 mph traffic. Sure, when I'm in my car I wish they weren't there, but they have a right to use the road.

And if you're in Mason City, IA, how you gonna get to Clear lake on a bike if they won't let you on ride on US 16.

 

[Old-tool-guy]

It is not uncommon however for a spandex wearing road bike rider to go whizzing by at 25 MPH or more, often gesturing disapproval of my slow pace.

Usually they flash by in a tight pack of 4 to 6.

 

[6zfshdb]

Usually they flash by in a tight pack of 4 to 6.

It's one of the reasons I like to ride semi rough trails. It keeps the spandexers at bay.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Lots of lycra-clad roadies out and about here. To my eye, most ride responsibly when they're alone or with 1 or 2 other riders.

Most of the bad behavior I see comes when they ride in larger groups. But that also goes for pedestrians and ebikers. Put people in a group in a public space — road, bikeway, MUP, sidewalk, building entrance, you name it — and all sitational awareness and respect for other users seems to go out the window.

In fact, these groups seem to gravitate toward formations that effectively block the way for others. How does a group of 4 pedestrians automatically arrange itself on a sidewalk? Four abreast, of course. And does anyone keep an eye out for other folks who might need to get by? Rarely.

Same thing on group bike rides. At some level, every adult rider (who's probably also a driver) surely understands that the win-win — especially safety-wise — is for all cars and all bikes to stay in their own lanes. But even with perfectly good bike lanes, that's gone straight out the window on every big group ride I've been on.

 

[stompandgo]

Jeremy, very well put. Add in the joggers/skaters/pole skaters/runners/skateboarders that go down the center of the MUP with their earbuds blasting, oblivious and deaf to anyone behind them.

I've been fortunate to ride in groups with people who are very cognizant of what is going on around them. Most of us are/were racers. Full out spandex for you haterz. Nobody wants to get hurt on a group ride, so we all look out for each other. That means everything. Motor vehicle traffic, other road users, road conditions, intersections, and each other. Even on drop rides, you have to know who dropped. It is never perfect, but perfection is the goal. I have not found a group like that since moving here.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I've been fortunate to ride in groups with people who are very cognizant of what is going on around them. .... I have not found a group like that since moving here.

Looked into local group rides when we moved here. One of the more established rides — way too fast for me — made a point of riding single-file in their online rules. Wonder how much compliance that rule actually gets?

None of the other groups with websites said anything about road courtesy.

In the one mostly old roadie group I ride with now and then, about 70-80% stay in their lane. Two guys insist on riding in car lanes at all times, and the rest stray into car lanes now and then.