Mobility & Curb Rules in Surprise, AZ

If you live in Surprise or are thinking about moving there, mobility & curb rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Surprise has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of mobility & curb rules, and some of them might surprise you.

E-Bike Classes

Surprise's shared-mobility ordinance, Code § 54-58, defines an 'electric bicycle' as a two- or three-wheeled pedal bike with a motor of no more than 750 watts and a motor-only top speed of 20 mph, and it excludes state-defined 'class 3' electric bicycles from the sidewalk-riding allowance given to slower e-bikes and shared scooters when no bike lane exists on a fast road.

Key details: Electric bicycle definition: 750W max motor, 20 mph motor-only top speed. Stand-up scooter definition: Under 75 lbs, max 20 mph. Sidewalk exclusion: Class 3 e-bikes barred from sidewalk allowance. Fleet speed restriction: 20 mph e-bikes / 12 mph scooters (operator-set).

A shared electric bicycle deployed or ridden faster than the 20 mph technical restriction, or a class 3 electric bicycle ridden on a sidewalk where § 54-58(g)(2)'s exception does not apply, is a violation of the SATV pilot program ordinance. Riders are subject to the same rights and duties as any bicycle rider under state and local traffic law under § 54-58(g)(1), and the city may impound a SATV that is not operated according to the program's terms.

Bike Lane Rules

Surprise's shared-mobility ordinance, Code § 54-58(g), requires bicycle and shared e-bike/scooter (SATV) riders in a bike lane or roadway to travel in the same direction as vehicle traffic unless signs or markings allow two-way travel, and to ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb when moving slower than traffic, with listed exceptions for passing, left turns, and hazards.

Key details: Direction of travel: Same direction as traffic unless marked two-way. Traffic control: Must obey signals/signs like a vehicle. Curb positioning: Ride close to right curb when slower than traffic. Curb exceptions: Passing, left turns, hazards, narrow lanes.

Section 54-58 does not set a separate dollar fine for a bike-lane violation; a rider who fails to follow the direction-of-travel, curb, or traffic-control rules in paragraphs (7), (8), and (11) is subject to the same duties and liabilities as any bicycle rider under state and local traffic law, per paragraph (g)(1). The city also holds authority to impound SATVs that are operated or parked in violation of the pilot program's terms.

Shared E-Scooter Rules

Surprise regulates rented, dockless electric scooters and bikes (SATVs) through a temporary pilot program under Code § 54-58, capping the citywide fleet at 100 vehicles, requiring every operator to sign a temporary operating agreement, and banning deployment inside city parks, in front of single-family homes, and in several other listed zones. Operators must retrieve their fleets nightly by 10:00 p.m. and cannot redeploy before 5:00 a.m.

Key details: Citywide fleet cap: 100 SATVs at any one time. Pilot term: 180 days from ordinance effective date. Nightly curfew: Pickup by 10 p.m., no redeploy before 5 a.m.. No-deploy zones: Parks, home fronts, medians, loading/disabled zones. Unauthorized deployment: Treated as trespass on city property.

Deploying SATVs without a signed temporary operating agreement is treated as a trespass on city property under Section 54-58(d). The city may impound any SATV that is deployed, parked, or abandoned contrary to the program's terms, and an operator must retrieve an impounded vehicle within two business days or the city may dispose of it at the operator's expense. The city can also terminate an operator's agreement outright and require its entire fleet removed within 48 hours.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Surprise actively enforces its shared e-scooter rules requirements.

The Bottom Line

Surprise's mobility & curb rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Surprise is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Surprise's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.