ORDINANCE 7.4
Sponsor: DPW Commission, Ordinance Committee
Public Hearing Dates:
First reading: 04/13/26
Referred to: Ordinance Committee
Rules suspended and placed in all
stages of passage:
Second reading: 06/15/26
Action: adopted
Date: 06/15/26
Signed by Mayor: 06/16/26
Published: 06/24/26
Effective: 07/14/26
It is hereby Ordained by the City Council of the City of Burlington as follows:
That Chapter 6, Bicycles, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington be and hereby is amended by amending Article 1, In General, Section 6-1, Definitions; Section 6-3, Riding on sidewalks, bicycle and pedestrian pathways and in parks; Section 6-15, Dissemination of information; Section, 6-18, Reserved; and Chapter 20, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Article 1, In General, Section 20-1, Definitions; thereof to read as follows:
6-1 Definitions.
Bicycle: As written
Motor-assisted bicycle: Any bicycle with fully operable pedals and equipped with a motor that in itself is capable of producing a speed of no more than thirty (30) miles per hour on a paved level surface. A motor-assisted bicycle is not a motor vehicle or micromobility device and shall obey all traffic regulations applicable to bicycles, except as otherwise provided by law or other ordinances.
Electric bicycle: A bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals, two wheels, a saddle or seat for the rider, and an electric motor of less than 750 watts that meets the requirements of one of the following three classes:
i. “Class 1 electric bicycle” means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty (20) miles per hour.
ii. “Class 2 electric bicycle” means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty (20) miles per hour.
iii. “Class 3 electric bicycle” means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty-eight (28) miles per hour.
An electric bicycle is not a motor vehicle and shall obey all traffic regulations applicable to bicycles, except as otherwise provided by law, including any provision of this code.
Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices (EPAMD): means a self-balancing, two-nontandem-wheeled device, designed to transport only one person, with an electric propulsion system with average power of 750 watts (1 h.p.).
(1) with front, rear, and side reflectors;
(2) with a system that will enable the operator to bring the device to a controlled stop; and
(3) if the device is operated between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise, with a lamp emitting a white light that, while the device is in motion, shall illuminate the area in front of the operator.
Rights and duties of operator. The operator of an EPAMD shall have the rights and duties of pedestrians.
Motor-assisted bicycle: Any bicycle or tricycle with fully operable pedals and equipped with a motor that in itself is capable of producing a top speed of not more than twenty (20) miles per hour on a paved level surface when ridden by an operator who weighs one hundred seventy (170) pounds and either:
I. has an internal combustion motor with a power output of not more than 1,000 watts or 1.3 horsepower; or
II. has an electric motor with a power output of not more than 1,000 watts and does not meet the requirements of one of the three classes in Electric Bicycles
A motor assisted bicycle is not a motor vehicle and shall obey all traffic regulations applicable to bicycles, except as otherwise provided by law, including any provision of this code. A person under sixteen (16) years of age shall not operate a motor-assisted bicycle on a highway in Burlington.
Motor-assisted micromobility device: Any motor-assisted device for personal transportation. This includes any device with no more than three (3) wheels and a motor that in itself is capable of producing a speed of no more than twenty-five (25) miles per hour on a paved level surface. Motor-assisted micromobility devices are not motor vehicles and shall obey all traffic regulations applicable to motor-assisted bicycles, except as otherwise provided by law or other ordinances.
Motor-assisted micromobility device: Any motor-assisted, wheeled device for personal single-occupancy transportation that does not have a seat, is designed to be stood upon when riding, and has an electric propulsion system averaging less than 1,000 watts, the maximum speed of which, when powered solely by a propulsion system on a paved level surface, is no more than twenty five (25) miles per hour. The device may be designed to also be powered by human propulsion. A motor-assisted micromobility device is not a motor vehicle and shall obey all traffic regulations applicable to bicycles, except as otherwise provided by law, including a provision of this code.
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6-3 Riding on sidewalks, bicycle and pedestrian pathways and in parks.
(a) Allowances and restrictions on methods of transportation on public routes are as follows:
Church Street Marketplace District: Bicycles, electric bicycles, motor assisted micromobility devices, and motor assisted bicycles are allowed within the Church Street Marketplace District, only within the vehicle travel portions of Bank, Cherry and College Streets, and the bike lane on Main Street.
Sidewalks within the City Center (bounded by the streets of Pearl Street, South Winooski Avenue, Maple Street, and Battery Street) except Church Street Marketplace District: Motor-assisted bikes, and motor-assisted micromobility devices are not allowed. Bicycles and micromobility devices are allowed for operators of these devices age sixteen (16) and younger, who may use these spaces as dedicated bike facilities within the City Center.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, bicycles, electric bicycles, motorassisted bicycles, micromobility devices, and motorassisted micromobility devices are allowed upon bike paths, bike lanes, bicycle and pedestrian pathways, multiuse paths, shareduse paths, and in crosswalks. Where a designated bicycle, micromobility, or multiuse facility is provided on or adjacent to a sidewalk, users of any age may operate their device within that designated facility.
(a)(b) It shall be unlawful and shall be a trespass:
(1) For any person over the age of sixteen (16) years to operate a bicycle upon any sidewalk of the city within the inner fire district City Center; provided that any person age sixteen (16) or under may use these devices upon sidewalks in the City Center, as indicated in the previous subsection.
(2) For any person of any age to operate a bicycle upon any sidewalk or within any public parking facility in the City Center, (bounded by the centerlines streets of Pearl Street, South Winooski Avenue, Main Street, Maple Street, and St. Paul Street Battery Street), or within City Hall Park;
(3) As written.
(b)(c) – (e)(f) *Renumbered, but otherwise as written
(f)(g) No person shall operate a motor-assisted bicycle, motor-driven cycle as defined in 23 V.S.A § 4(45)(A), motor-assisted micromobility device, pedi-cab or pedi-bus upon any sidewalk.
(g)(h) Persons riding a bicycle, electric bicycle, micromobility device, motor-assisted bicycle, or motor-assisted micromobility device, pedi-cab or pedi-bus on a bicycle and pedestrian pathway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian.
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6-15 Dissemination of information.
(a) Every person engaged in the sale or dissemination of bicycles shall inform each purchaser of city ordinances and state laws governing the operation of bicycles.
(b) Every person engaged in the business of renting bicycles for use in the city shall inform each person who rents a bicycle of the city ordinances and state laws governing the operation of bicycles.
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6-18 ReservedReckless operation.
A person may not operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, motor assisted micromobility device, or motor-driven cycle, upon any roadway, bicycle lane, bicycle path, bicycle and pedestrian pathway, or sidewalk (if applicable) under the control of the City of Burlington in a careless, reckless, or negligent manner so as to endanger the life and safety of any person, or the property of any other person.
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20-1 Definitions.
Whenever in this chapter the following terms are used, they shall have the following meanings respectively given to them:
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Motor-assisted bicycle: Any bicycle with fully operable pedals and equipped with a motor that in itself is capable of producing a speed of no more than thirty (30) miles per hour on a paved level surface As defined in section 1 of chapter 6 of this code.
Motor-assisted micromobility device: Any motor-assisted device for personal transportation. This includes any device with no more than three (3) wheels and a motor that in itself is capable of producing a speed of no more than twenty-five (25) miles per hour on a paved level surface. Motor-assisted micromobility devices are not motor vehicles and shall obey all traffic regulations applicable to motor-assisted bicycles, except as otherwise provided by law or other ordinances. As defined in section 1 of chapter 6 of this code.
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* Material stricken out deleted.
** Material underlined added.
*** Omission of text–interim/rest of sections/definitions as written
CM/ER/Ordinances 2026/Ch. 6;Bicycles, Ch. 20; Motor Vehicles And Traffic
Secs. 6-1, 3, 15, 18 and 20-1
6/15/26