Focus Area: Legal
Staff Contact: Ron Shaver and Bob Gallimore
Subject: Proposed amendments to Title 10 of the Olathe Municipal Code (the Olathe Traffic Ordinance).
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Report regarding proposed amendments to Title 10 of the Olathe Municipal Code (the Olathe Traffic Ordinance).
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Summary:
This item was provided as a report on the City Council agenda on February 17, 2026. Following that meeting, additional revisions were made to the proposed ordinance based on Councilmember and resident feedback and additional staff analysis, including:
• Adjusting the e-bike speed limit to reflect the state three-class system;
• Increasing the applicable m.p.h. for speed limits on neighborhood roads without sidewalks where e-scooters may be ridden from 20 m.p.h. to 30 m.p.h.;
• Removing specific references to paths and trails in the provisions allowing prohibition by official signage to stay consistent with existing Title 10 language;
• Allowing e-bikes to be ridden on roads with 40 m.p.h. speed limits (increase from current limit of 35 m.p.h.); and
• Adding the e-bike and micromobility device sections to the Municipal Court schedule of fines.
Over the last few years, the City Council has approved updates to Title 10 of the Olathe Municipal Code (the Olathe Traffic Ordinance) to proactively address concerns raised by the increasing usage of electric-assisted bicycles (“e-bikes”), electric-assisted scooters (“e-scooters”), and similar devices. Staff has continued to monitor issues raised by usage of these devices and ordinances enacted by neighboring cities in response to their growing popularity.
In anticipation of a public educational campaign regarding usage of these devices in Olathe, staff has prepared additional revisions to the Olathe Traffic Ordinance to further address safety and enforcement concerns and clarify device categorization and usage. These changes can be found in the proposed Ordinance 26-XX (Attachment A). The attached Summary of Proposed Changes (Attachment B) provides a high-level summary of the proposed changes, additional details, and answers to questions raised regarding the proposed ordinance. State statutes referenced in the Summary of Proposed Changes are also attached (Attachment C).
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Financial Impact:
None.
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Action Needed:
Accept the report. Unless directed otherwise, staff will prepare the ordinance for formal consideration on April 7, 2026.
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Attachment(s):
A - Ordinance No. 26-XX
B - Summary of Proposed Changes
C - Source Statutes