Metro Bike Ordinances

In recent years, new devices - e-bikes, e-motos, e-scooters, and more - have entered the market. They are prompting a wave of concern as young and/or inexperienced riders engage in reckless riding. Many of these devices fall into a regulatory gap since they rose in popularity after state laws and local ordinances were written. In response, local cities are re-writing their bike ordinances and often inadvertently penalizing traditional cyclists in the process. To date, cities are largely taking a go-it-alone approach rather than working together to create a consistent set of rules across the metro, and they have not properly engaged cycling experts in the initial drafting process. The Street Collective, with assistance from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition and BIKEIOWA, has been advocating for better ordinances.

Learn more below about the bike ordinance in your city - and how to use your voice.

City Bike Ordinances

  • Ankeny passed a new bike ordinance in April 2020. It contains several flaws, including a faulty definition of e-motos and a dangerous standard for testing braking ability. It also completely fails to regulate high-speed electric scooters. This was passed before the Street Collective became actively engaged in improving individual city ordinances.

  • Clive passed a first reading of an ordinance that would have made it illegal to bicycle on most streets, but they agreed to revise it after the Street Collective spoke out at a city council meeting. They subsequently met with the Street Collective and Iowa Bicycle Coalition to walk through needed changes, making most of them. After this editing process, the ordinance had been so substantially changed that it needed to be re-presented for a first reading. The revised ordinance that passed in July 2026 was substantially improved thanks to the Street Collective’s advocacy, though Clive refused to change a faulty e-moto definition.

  • In 2022, a model ordinance was developed and extensively vetted by local cities through the Metropolitan Planning Organization, but adoption was tabled in hopes of action at the state level. In 2026, the Street Collective, Iowa Bicycle Coalition, and BIKEIOWA updated the model ordinance to incorporate changes to Iowa code and to create rules around new devices on the market. This ordinance has been designed to promote safety, create clear rules, and protect bicyclists’ rights. We encourage metro cities to adopt this model ordinance.

  • Norwalk’s proposed ordinance would have banned Class 3 low-speed electric bicycles from sidewalks and trails (and would even have banned strollers from rolling on the grass in public parks). The Street Collective requested eight changes to the ordinance, and other cyclists wrote in with their own concerns. At the second reading of the ordinance, the city council held a separate discussion on each requested change and enacted several. Thanks to the Street Collective’s advocacy, Norwalk agreed to allow all bikes wherever bikes are allowed, fixed a faulty e-moto definition, and agreed to more reasonable restrictions in business districts. This ordinance would impose helmet requirements for some youth and penalties for parents who fail to supervise their children.

  • Urbandale previewed their proposed bike ordinance at their 7/7/26 city council meeting (view that discussion here starting at 1:13:30), and it is scheduled for a first reading on July 21. The ordinance would allow some motor vehicles and e-motos to ride on bike trails, sidewalks, and bike lanes because it fails to use the combined motor/speed standard adopted by other cities to determine who can ride where. The ordinance also bans e-scooters from streets when a sidewalk is available, which creates more dangerous conditions for pedestrians. Another major problem is the totally disproportionate fine for ordinance violations - up to $750 compared to just $25 in Waukee or Norwalk.

    The Street Collective has prepared this document recommending changes to the ordinance. Please use your voice to call for change - you can use our document for inspiration or read the ordinance yourself to see what you want changed.

    Email city officials to request changes to the ordinance, and speak out at the city council meetings (7/21, 8/4, and 8/18) if you are able. Here are the email addresses for the city officials you should email to share your feedback (mayor, city council, police chief, city manager, assistant city manager, city clerk, and city attorney):

    bandeweg@urbandale.org
    acroll@urbandale.org
    brozendaal@urbandale.org
    bcarberrymontgomery@urbandale.org
    jcacciatore@urbandale.org
    pboddy@urbandale.org
    police@urbandale.org
    djones@urbandale.org
    cbrown@urbandale.org
    nlunders@urbandale.org
    kstone@ahlerslaw.com

  • In April 2026, Waukee passed the first reading of a bike ordinance that would make it illegal to bicycle on most city streets. The Street Collective mobilized to stop the ordinance: over 200 cyclists signed a letter of opposition, and dozens attended the next city council meeting. Waukee ultimately voted down the ordinance and rewrote it to incorporate extensive feedback from the Street Collective and its partners. The new proposed ordinance incorporated 45 of 58 requested changes, and additional changes we requested were incorporated after the first reading. Waukee ultimately refused to change its faulty definition of e-motos or its dangerous requirement forcing e-scooters on sidewalks with pedestrians. The new ordinance is expected to pass at the third reading on July 20, 2026.

    Waukee has a policy of reviewing new ordinances after one year, so there should be an opportunity for citizens to push for changes in summer 2027.

How can I use my voice?

City officials - often the police chief, (assistant) city manager, and city attorney - write a draft ordinance and then present it to the city council for consideration. To be adopted, it must be presented at three separate city council meetings (city council meetings typically occur twice a month on a set schedule). Each time it is presented, this is called a “reading,” and the council must vote to pass it for it to move forward to the next reading. The council can also vote down an ordinance or vote to table it. An ordinance is tabled when city staff want more time to make revisions but do not think those revisions will be substantial. If the revisions are substantial, the ordinance must be re-presented for a new first reading. Between readings, staff can make changes to the ordinance without interrupting the review process as long as the entire ordinance is not substantially changed. Decisions are often made at city council meetings about changes to make before the next reading. If the ordinance passes all three readings, it is adopted.

Citizens can be hugely influential in this process. City staff and council members often make changes based on feedback received from the public. Email your feedback to city officials - the mayor, city council members, police chief, city manager, assistant city manager, city clerk, and city attorney - or reach out personally. Email addresses for city officials are posted on the city’s website. Cities may make changes to the ordinance based on feedback received or may flag topics for discussion at the meeting based on your feedback.

Speaking at the city council meeting is also a powerful tool for change. The process varies by city. Some cities only allow public comments at the beginning of the meeting and typically limit each person to three minutes - depending on the city, you may be required to sign up in advance to speak. Other cities limit the initial public comment section to non-agenda items but then allow public comments later in the agenda on the specific agenda item. Research how your city works before attending the meeting. You generally have the option to watch or speak at the reading remotely with a Zoom link or similar, though advocacy is more effective in person.

Agendas for city council meetings are posted online in advance and usually include links to the proposed ordinance. If you miss a meeting, go to the city council website for the link to the recording so you can see what transpired.

Public feedback produces change. At the city level, public feedback is highly influential in the ordinance process. In Norwalk, for example, every change requested from the public was a separate council discussion item during their bike ordinance discussion. So use your voice!