Surprise, AZ Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)
Key Facts
- 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)
Summary
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.
Electric bicycle means a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts (one horsepower), the maximum speed of which on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such motor, is 20 miles per hour. ... Stand-up electric scooter means a device which weighs less than 75 pounds, has two or three wheels, has handlebars, has a floorboard on which person may stand while riding, is powered by an electric motor or human power, or both, has a maximum speed that does not exceed 20 miles per hour, with or without human propulsion. ... (2)A person may operate a bicycle or SATV, excluding class 3 electric bicycles as defined by A.R.S. § 28-101, upon a sidewalk where no bike lane is available and where the speed limit on the roadway is greater than 25 miles per hour. ... (13)Operators shall only deploy SATVs that are technically or mechanically restricted by the operator to have a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour for electric bicycles and 12 miles per hour for stand-up electric scooters.
Full Breakdown
Section 54-58(b) defines an 'electric bicycle' for purposes of the city's shared active transportation vehicle (SATV) program as a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts (one horsepower), with a maximum speed on a paved level surface, powered solely by the motor, of 20 miles per hour. The same subsection defines a 'stand-up electric scooter' as a device under 75 pounds with two or three wheels, handlebars, and a floorboard, powered by an electric motor, human power, or both, with a maximum speed that does not exceed 20 miles per hour.
§ 28-101 are carved out of that permission and may not use it. Operators participating in the pilot program must also mechanically restrict any deployed electric bicycle to a maximum of 20 miles per hour under § 54-58(g)(13), even though the code's own 'electric bicycle' definition already caps motor-only speed at 20 mph.
Violations & Fines
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an 'electric bicycle' under Surprise's code?
Can a class 3 e-bike ride on a Surprise sidewalk?
Is there a speed cap on shared e-bikes and scooters in Surprise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Surprise
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