The bill has now moved to the House, where it has been referred to the Committee on Transport, Mobility and Infrastructure.
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M-185 is a state road that circles the island and, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Senate Fiscal Agency, is the only one in the country where motor vehicles are not allowed. Instead, people walk, bike and ride horses on the highway. Unlike city roads, local law enforcement cannot enact a speed limit on M-185 since it is a state highway.
“The concern is that … an electric bike can only go 20 miles an hour anyway, but without a speed limit restriction, people are going to go 20 miles an hour routinely,” Damoose said .
Damoose said he is hopeful that the bill will pass the House and become law before the summer, as the small island of only 500 residents prepares for millions of tourists.
The existing speed limit for electric bikes is 15 kilometers per hour – 10 mph in a business district – but the rule has been difficult to enforce.
However, If passed, the bill would strengthen that rule. Many residents and business owners have expressed concerns to local lawmakers that high-speed electric bikes could cause accidents.
While electric bikes are generally prohibited, there are exceptions for people who have them mobility problems or a limited ability to ride a bicycle, as outlined in the Mackinac Island Code of Ordinances.
