Merrily We Roll Along

RECREATION & LEISURE

By Randy B. Young
Correspondent

They’re baaa-aack!

Students from grade school to grad school are hurrying along sidewalks and roadways, some on foot and some on bikes, leaving pedestrians and motorists once again cursing the demonstration of local “wheel power.”

To be sure, both Chapel Hill (including UNC) and Carrboro prioritize bicycling as a safe, healthy, and economical means of travel.

Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill are all designated as Silver Level “Bicycle Friendly Communities” by the League of American Bicyclists. The designation reflects a community’s commitment to cycling and to encouraging a rider-friendly culture.

But bicycling can be wheel-y dangerous.

“16-20 bicyclists are killed in collisions with motor vehicles on North Carolina roads each year,” The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s “Walk/Bike NC” website stated, “with many experiencing possible injuries.”

“Watch for Me NC” said it aims to reduce pedestrian and bicycle mishaps through public education and friendly police/community engagement. But with disparate rules applying to innumerable types of vehicles, it’s tough to get a handle on best practices.

Wheels are turning

With the start of school, Carrboro is urging students to use caution when walking or biking and encouraging motorists to watch for students walking or biking.

“Please remember to be patient and attentive as you drive, bike, or walk, as school buses, cars, bikes, and pedestrians will all be in motion at once,” Carrboro Police Chief Chris Atack said. “Expect traffic delays around schools during drop-off and pick-up times. Our officers will be out conducting traffic enforcement to keep everyone safe.”

Chapel Hill is echoing the call for cycling safety.

“It’s important that drivers slow down, stay alert, and watch their surroundings especially in neighborhoods where children are often on bikes,” said Town of Chapel Hill

Communications Manager Alex Carrasquillo.

“We conduct pedestrian and cyclist safety enforcement where police officers monitor crosswalks to make sure drivers are following traffic laws,” Carrasquillo added, “but if we notice a pedestrian or cyclist making unsafe decisions, we talk with them about the danger.

“Officers visit schools to talk with students, and we also encourage parents to have these important conversations with their children—especially teens who are out exploring on their own.”

Traditional bicycles and e-bikes weave their way past pedestrians across the crowded Bell Tower crosswalk spanning South Road. Photo by Randy B. Young

No more vicious cycles (or vicious drivers)

UNC provides a list of tips for both area motorists and bicyclists. “Do’s” include self-awareness, watching for cars and pedestrians in all directions, and turning off electronic devices.

The UNC Department of Transportation and Parking (www.move.unc.edu) noted that bicyclists should ride with traffic, wear a helmet and reflective materials, look for obstacles (storm drains, etc.), and make eye contact with drivers and pedestrians when possible.

Bikes are permitted on campus brick paths, but pedestrians have the right-of-way. When on the road, cyclists should avoid making unpredictable, last-minute actions and beware of “right hook” scenarios (where cars may be turning right while cyclists go straight through intersections).

Conversely, motorists should watch for pedestrians or bicyclists before making a turn, slow down in areas like bus stops, schools, and playgrounds, avoid distractions like cellphones, and give bicyclists a wide berth.

Generally, North Carolina traffic laws related to bicycling stipulate that cyclists ride (in the same direction as traffic), obey traffic signals and signs, and use hand signal to communicate movements. Bicyclists are allowed to travel on public roadways except highways and are entitled to a full marked lane of traffic but should limit speed to what is reasonable.

An electric scooter (e-scooter) rider turns onto a brick sidewalk along Stadium Drive on the UNC campus. E-scooters are now allowed on campus and town sidewalks but must stick to a reasonable speed and yield to pedestrians. Photo by Randy B. Young

Ill-at-E’s in NC

It seems like there’s every kind of vehicle zigzagging on local roads short of a “Back to the Future” zero-g hoverboard (at least not as of the futuristic date of October 21, 2015).

Students, commuting workers, and recreation enthusiasts are opting to navigate streets with ease, or more appropriately, “E’s.” But neither traditional bicycles nor e-bike, e-moto, or e-scooter fans seem to be fully up on the current road rules as they apply to North Carolina and, more to the point, Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Making matters worse, most motorists aren’t fully educated on how to best accommodate cyclists and e-riders either.

North Carolina has laws that govern the use of most e-vehicles, traditional bikes, and motorists that share the roads with them, distinguishing between various two-wheeled electric rides in NC according to speed, presence of pedals, or the motor’s power.

An e-moto is defined as a high-powered, two-wheeled electric vehicle with a motor bigger than 750 watts and has foot pegs instead of functional pedals. E-motos require DMV registration, a license plate, and proof of insurance.

Alternatively, North Carolina defines an e-bike as an “electric assisted bicycle” with pedals and an electric motor (less than 750 watts), classified according to speed range and level of pedal assistance.

Stand-up e-scooters, however, must have no more than three wheels (usually two), with handlebars to steer, and a maximum speed of 20 mph on flat ground.

In NC, human-powered bicycles and e-bikes share many of the same rules. Helmets are required for bicyclists under 16, but the minimum age to ride an e-bike is 16. Additionally, e-bikes are not allowed on sidewalks. Beyond that, regulations and best practices for e-transportation users are set locally.

All e-politics are e-local

For the most part, North Carolina gives e-scooter riders permission to operate on most public roads, in bike lanes, and on sidewalks (yielding to pedestrians).

Universally, one must be at least 16 years old to ride e-scooters on streets or sidewalks. DMV registration is not required, and riders should not exceed 20 miles per hour and should obey all traffic regulations. Typically, across NC, e-scooters are allowed on sidewalks, bike lanes, and roads.

Local governments adjust rules based on how e-vehicles fit into their township: where you can ride depends on your town. Local city ordinances in cities like Durham reflect the city’s speed limits in busy areas, demarcate designated “no-ride” zones (i.e., sidewalks), or have parking rules for rental scooters. Because of this, it’s always a smart idea to do a quick search for current local scooter rules before riding in a new city.

Up until this past winter, the UNC Campus Safety website stated that e-scooters were not permitted on campus sidewalks and that riders must dismount and walk with them on walkways, said Suhas Nittoor in a February Daily Tar Heel story. Currently, however, the website no longer includes an e-scooter section.

According to Nittoor, “a UNC Media Relations statement stated that the regulations have been updated according to the 2025/26 Transportation and Parking Ordinance.

While motorized two-wheeled vehicles (e-bikes, mopeds, and motorcycles) are still barred from operating on campus sidewalks, e-scooters are no longer subject to sidewalk restrictions, Nittoor wrote.

Carrasquillo said that the Town of Chapel Hill is following suit: “E-scooters are technically allowed on sidewalks in town,” he said. “We’d just recommend people slow down in busy areas.”

An electric scooter (e-scooter) rider must contend with the flow of traffic and visibility challenges as she turns from South Road into UNC’s Raleigh Road Lot. Photo by Randy B. Young

E-something? Say something!

With the proliferation of e-vehicles in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, local law enforcement is both aware of the increase in number and concerned about safety.

Chapel Hill Communications Manager Alex Carrasquillo stressed that those who see e-vehicles operate without regard to either the driver’s or motorists’ safety should contact the authorities.

“Anyone who is concerned about their safety or someone else’s should call 9-1-1,” he said.

Carrboro Police Chief Atack agreed: “Yes, we have received complaints about unsafe operation of e-bikes, usually from within neighborhoods and from the Weaver Street and North Greensboro Street areas. Generally, the complaints involve unsafe speeds (too fast), weaving in traffic, and disregarding traffic control (signals).”

“If there is a danger to public safety, we recommend folks call 9-1-1. If it’s a belated incident, folks can report it to Orange County Communications through their non-emergency number ([919] 732-5063).

Putting your mind at “E’s”

North Carolina and local rules reflect safe, common sense practices for every two and four-wheeled vehicle, whether powered by gas, a battery, or sweat. Still, local regulations related to bikes and e-vehicles are adjudicated locally.

Except where local regulations ostentatiously divert from state laws, then, riders can use sidewalks and crosswalks but should prioritize pedestrian safety. Riders in streets or dedicated lanes should exhibit good common sense and obey all traffic rules.

With so many e-vehicles showing up on local roadways, this common-sense approach enhances safety…at least until those zero-gravity hoverboards finally show up.

Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and UNC are all seeing a proliferation of e-scooters on local roads and seek a common understanding of regulations among riders, pedestrians, and motorists. Photo by Randy B. Young

A Dartmouth College graduate, Randy B. Young first worked as an award-winning advertising copywriter in New Hampshire, then in communications at UNC for over 30 years. He maintained an award-winning newspaper feature covering Recreation and Exercise in the Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Orange County. Retired and living in Chapel Hill, Randy continues to write for regional publications both locally and in New England, and his book, And the Stars Flew With Us, is available through Amazon and at independent bookstores. He coaches track at Chapel Hill High and has a photography business, Pierless (sic) Photography. This reporter can be reached at: Information@TheLocalReporter.press