Eugene police launch tool to report e-moto, e-bike complaints

Residents who have watched e-motos speed through Eugene bike paths, sidewalks and streets now have a new place to document the problem. Eugene police have added a reporting tool to MyPDConnect that lets people flag complaints about e-motos, e-bikes, speeding and reckless riding anywhere in the city.

The tool was added June 4, 2026, and police say it is meant to track complaints and pinpoint where illegal e-moto and e-bike or e-scooter behavior is happening. Users can upload photos and video, and the broader MyPDConnect system can generate real-time heat maps of reported problems so officers can see patterns instead of isolated complaints.

That matters in a city where traffic safety is already a major issue. The Eugene Police Traffic Safety Unit, which has seven officers and a sergeant, handles neighborhood speeding complaints, radar trailers and focused enforcement. The department has also been trying to change path behavior for years, launching a path etiquette campaign in July 2021 to push courtesy and safer use on shared routes.

Police say the sharpest problem is misuse. E-motos are allowed only on private property and designated off-highway vehicle areas, not on bike paths, sidewalks or roadways where some riders have been taking them. The department also warns that some retailers may mislabel an e-moto as an e-bike, which can leave buyers, including parents shopping for teenagers, unsure which rules apply until they are stopped.

Oregon law draws a clear line between legal e-bikes and motor vehicles. The Oregon Department of Transportation says Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes stop assisting at 20 mph, while Class 3 e-bikes stop assisting at 28 mph and must have a speedometer. E-bikes that do not fit those definitions, or are modified out of class, are treated as motor vehicles. Oregon guidance also says riders must be at least 16 and may not operate e-bikes on sidewalks.

The state’s rules have continued to shift as micromobility grows. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department updated its e-bike rules, effective July 1, 2025, to generally allow e-bikes where bicycles are allowed unless posted otherwise. In 2026, lawmakers passed House Bill 4007, which bike advocates say lowered the legal age for Class 1 e-bike riding from 16 to 14 and barred retailers from selling e-motorcycles as e-bikes.

For Eugene, the new reporting tool puts complaints, enforcement and location data into one place. Residents can report through MyPDConnect, add photos or video, and even schedule Zoom or phone calls with community service officers, giving police a clearer view of where unsafe riding is disrupting daily travel on streets and paths.