Written Content
Mackinac Island in Michigan is one of the few towns in the United States where cars are banned, making it a bike and e-bike heaven, but restrictions just got tighter for e-bikes.
Current Rules on Makinac Island
On Mackinac Island only police and emergency services are allowed to have automobiles. The rest of the town gets around by walking, horse-drawn carriage, or riding bikes. E-bikes are allowed for those with a qualifying disability and are restricted to Class 1 E–bikes, which require pedaling for the motor to be engaged. But the town just instituted a 15 mph speed limit on the highway that circles the island and 10 mph speed limit in the business district.
New Legislation
This speed limit is meant to target E-bikes, most of which can reach a speed of 20 mph. There was wide bipartisan support for the new law, which was introduced by Republican State Senator John Damoose and signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on July 6th. Lawmakers believe this to be a necessary step to keep the island’s roads safe.
"This is a narrow road that has horses and walkers and kids, and kids that are riding bikes with training wheels, and tourists staring at everything," Damoose said. "You can't have people going that fast."
Highway M-185 is the only highway in the U.S. where cars are banned and was the only highway without a speed limit.
Freshly Charged Take
While we've never been to Makinac Island, we're all about car-free cities and towns, and this seems like a pretty neat PEV destination. A 15 mph speed limit is the perfect setting for Onewheel enthusiasts, slow e-bike riders, or those with entry-level scooters like a Segway Ninebot.
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