By Allison Peck
New rules governing bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, hoverboards and other similar devices in North Platte take effect Wednesday, September 30.
The North Platte City Council recently updated the city's regulations through Ordinance No. 4258.
The North Platte Police Department is encouraging riders to become familiar with the updated requirements before they take effect.
Riders must follow traffic laws
Under the updated ordinance, bicycles, e-bikes, hoverboards and lightweight e-scooters using roadways must follow applicable traffic laws and obey traffic-control devices, including stop signs.
Riders using sidewalks, hike-and-bike trails or other pedestrian walkways must yield to pedestrians and provide an audible signal before passing.
Riders approaching a sidewalk from an alley, driveway or building must also yield to pedestrians.
When entering a roadway, riders must yield to vehicles approaching on the roadway.
Restrictions on e-scooters and hoverboards
Lightweight e-scooters and hoverboards cannot be ridden on roadways within the city where the posted speed limit is greater than 25 miles per hour.
The devices may cross those roadways at a marked intersection, provided riders follow posted signs, warnings and applicable laws.
Passenger restrictions
The ordinance prohibits a person from operating a bicycle, skateboard, e-bike, hoverboard, scooter or lightweight e-scooter while carrying another person.
Likewise, another person may not ride as a passenger on those devices on a public street, sidewalk, alley or path unless the device was specifically manufactured with a designated passenger seat or structural accommodations for more than one person.
The ordinance also places responsibility on parents and guardians. Parents or guardians of children under 16 may not authorize or knowingly permit a child to violate the ordinance.
No attaching to moving vehicles
The updated rules prohibit riders from attaching themselves or a bicycle, e-bike, lightweight e-scooter or hoverboard to a vehicle traveling on a street.
Riders also may not hitch onto or cling to a moving vehicle.
Nighttime lighting requirements
Bicycles and covered electric devices traveling on streets from a half-hour after sunset until a half-hour before sunrise must have the required front light and rear reflector.
Hike-and-bike trails
E-bikes, e-scooters and hoverboards may be operated on North Platte's hike-and-bike trails unless prohibited by posted signage.
Riders must operate at a safe and reasonable speed and may not exceed 25 miles per hour or the posted speed limit for the bordering street, whichever is lower.
Central Business District
The updated ordinance also establishes a restriction for the Central Business District.
Bicycles, e-bikes, skateboards, hoverboards and lightweight e-scooters may not be ridden on sidewalks within the Central Business District.
On other permitted sidewalks, riders are required to yield to pedestrians.
The North Platte Police Department says the purpose of the updated rules is to promote safety for riders, pedestrians and motorists.
The department is reminding residents to share the road, follow traffic rules, yield to others and ride safely.
The updated ordinance, No. 4258, takes effect September 30, 2026.