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Ada County, ID Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Speed standard
No numeric limit; safe-and-prudent test
Covered riders
Cyclists, e-bikes, scooters, skateboards, in-line skates
Surface ban
No wheeled riding on curbs, benches, sidewalks
Fine
$100 infraction under 2-2-6(L)
Escalation
Misdemeanor if travel endangers a person

Summary

Ada County Code 2-2-6(E) bars cyclists, e-bike riders, scooter users, skateboarders and in-line skaters from taking the Greenbelt or county bike paths at a speed that endangers other users. The same section's subsection J keeps wheeled riders off curbs, ornamental surfaces, picnic tables and other structures unless an area is posted as open to wheeled devices.

City-specific rules exist: Boise has its own bike lane rules rules that differ from Ada County's county-level regulations. If you live in Boise, check the city-specific page instead.

E. Control Of Speed: Greenbelt and bike paths users are expected to act responsibly and courteously and not to exceed a safe and prudent speed. It is prohibited for cyclists, E-bike operators, scooter riders, skateboarders, roller skaters, and in-line skaters to use the Greenbelt or bike paths at such a speed as to endanger or injure other users. ... J. Wheeled Devices: No person on any Ada County parks and waterways property shall ride or operate a skateboard, roller skates, scooter, in-line skates, bicycle, or other wheeled recreation equipment on any concrete sidewalk, curbing, ornamental surface, hand railing, picnic table, bench, sport court, playground area, planter, sculpture, or other structure unless otherwise designated as an area where wheeled devices are permitted.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-15: Code current through: Ord. 1018, passed 3-24-2026).

Full Breakdown

Ada County's Greenbelt, the paved multi-use path running along the Boise River, and the county's other designated bike paths carry a courtesy-based speed rule rather than a numeric limit. Ada County Code 2-2-6(E), titled Control Of Speed, tells Greenbelt and bike paths users to act responsibly and courteously and not exceed a safe and prudent speed, and specifically names cyclists, e-bike operators, scooter riders, skateboarders, roller skaters, and in-line skaters as the classes of users the rule reaches. The standard is whether the speed endangers or injures another user, not a set mile-per-hour figure, so enforcement turns on how a particular rider behaved around pedestrians, families and slower cyclists sharing the path.

Subsection J separately addresses obstruction and surface misuse: no one may ride or operate a skateboard, roller skates, scooter, in-line skates, bicycle, or other wheeled recreation equipment on a concrete sidewalk, curbing, ornamental surface, hand railing, picnic table, bench, sport court, playground area, planter, sculpture, or similar structure, unless the Director has posted that area as open to wheeled devices. Subsection F adds a narrower equipment ban: no ski poles or push poles on the Greenbelt or bike paths, except cross-country skiers in sufficient snow and land paddlers using a rubberized-footer pole that will not damage the pavement.

Separately, Ada County Code 2-2-10(E) sets a parallel Greenbelt speed duty for all users, requiring reasonable and prudent travel given actual and potential hazards, and escalates a violation from an infraction to a misdemeanor if the reckless travel also endangers a person or property.

Violations & Fines

A speed, surface or equipment violation under subsections E, F, or J of Ada County Code 2-2-6 is an infraction carrying a $100 fine under subsection L. If reckless Greenbelt travel under the parallel rule in 2-2-10(E) also endangers a person or property, the offense escalates to a misdemeanor punishable under Idaho Code 18-113 instead of the flat fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a posted speed limit on the Ada County Greenbelt?
No numeric limit appears in the code. Ada County Code 2-2-6(E) instead requires cyclists, e-bike riders, scooter users, skateboarders and skaters to travel at a safe and prudent speed and bars any speed that endangers or injures other Greenbelt or bike path users, so enforcement depends on how the rider behaved around others rather than a radar reading.
Can I skateboard or ride a scooter on Greenbelt sidewalks and benches?
Not on the hard surfaces themselves. Ada County Code 2-2-6(J) bans riding a skateboard, scooter, in-line skates, or bicycle on concrete sidewalks, curbing, ornamental surfaces, railings, picnic tables, benches, sport courts, playgrounds, planters or sculptures unless the Director has specifically posted that area as open to wheeled devices.
What happens if my fast riding on the Greenbelt hurts someone?
It escalates the offense. A routine speed violation under Ada County Code 2-2-6(E) or 2-2-10(E) is normally a $100 infraction, but 2-2-10(E) makes travel that endangers or is likely to endanger a person or property a misdemeanor, punishable under Idaho Code 18-113 instead of the flat fine.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Ada County

All Ada County rules

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