As electric bikes, scooters, and other motorized mobility devices surge in popularity across Tempe, city leaders are forming a new subcommittee to address the safety challenges that come with them. Announced at the Tempe City Council’s September 4, 2025 work study session, the Motorized and Electric Mobility Device Safety Council Subcommittee will evaluate ways to make micromobility safer and more accessible for everyone.
Councilmember Jennifer Adams will chair the subcommittee, joined by Councilmember Berdetta Hodge. Together, they plan to analyze local crash data, review best practices from other cities, and recommend strategies to reduce injuries while promoting sustainable transportation options.
The rise of e-bikes and scooters has offered residents affordable, eco-friendly mobility — but it’s also led to a sharp increase in accidents. A study from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found that from 2017 to 2021, injuries involving electric scooters, bikes, and hoverboards jumped by 127%, with more than 77,000 injuries and 129 fatalities reported nationwide (Plattner Verderame, 2023).
In Tempe, the subcommittee will collaborate with local schools, city departments, and community organizations to improve safety education and outreach. Officials say the goal is to create evidence-based policies that enhance public safety while ensuring equitable access to clean, modern mobility options.
The first public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 2 p.m., in the Third Floor Conference Room of Tempe City Hall, 31 E. 5th Street. Residents are encouraged to attend and share their perspectives on how Tempe can make micromobility both safer and more sustainable.
