From 16 Jan. 2026, e-bike and scooter riders will have to comply with requirements under Cayman’s Traffic Law.
In a press release, the Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure said these requirements are not new and reflect the principle that e-bikes and scooters operate in the same traffic environment as motor vehicles and must follow the same Rules of the Road.
Under the Traffic Law, riders of e-bikes and scooters are required to:
- Be at least 17 years old
- Hold a valid Category 0 or Category 2 driver’s licence
- Ensure the device is registered, licensed and insured
- Comply with traffic signals, signage and road markings
- Operate only where permitted by law
Campaign launched to educate riders
Ahead of the enforcement, the National Road Safety Committee has launched an education campaign to ensure riders of e-bikes, scooters and similar personal transport devices clearly understand the existing legal requirements that apply when using public roads.
Eric Bush, chief officer for the ministry, as well as chair of the National Road Safety Committee, said the campaign is intended to ensure fairness and understanding ahead of enforcement, adding, “This education campaign is intended to give riders the knowledge of their responsibilities in operating an e-bike on Cayman’s roads and the time to become compliant.”
Police Commissioner Kurt Walton emphasised the importance of compliance in supporting road safety.
“E-bikes and scooters are operating alongside cars and other vehicles, and the same Rules of the Road apply. Understanding and complying with these requirements helps reduce risk and keeps all road users safer,” Walton said.
The campaign, which runs until 15 Jan., is being coordinated by the National Road Safety Committee in partnership with the ministry, police, the National Roads Authority and the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing. It is being delivered through radio, digital media, government and partner agency websites, public service centres and media interviews.
Members of the public are encouraged to use the education period to confirm they meet all legal requirements before riding, said the release.
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It’s most unfortunate that the government has chosen to make it harder to use the one viable alternative to owning a car.
It is also sad that instead of making our roads safer for young riders they have simply banned them from the roads altogether.
Cayman… never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Why aren’t fines listed? If you aren’t licensed insured and registered, is it $1,000 fine on top of the $600 driver license?
This government is attacking low income expats directly. More to come I bet.
Should I take a photo of all the kids under 17 years old on Bird scooters and send to Cayman Crime stoppers for a tip? Would I get paid?
No Caymanians I know ride scooters or e-bikes. We all have 2-5 cars to a household. This is directly to get expats.
The wage gap will increase, lower class will be erased and government officials will get their big salaries, paid for vehicles and profit off expats, in the case of Michael Myles and Pickleball Cayman. That needs a bit more exposure why he doesn’t fully employ Caymanians……
Can CIPS please direct owners to local insurance companies which insure e-bikes?
I haven’t found any as yet.
I need to start an e-bike insurance company before they start ripping us off at $1,000 a year for insurance. A cost higher than an E bike
Another attack on poor people.
I don’t ride any of these things. We stopped using regular bikes because the standard of driving is so poor.
A pedal bike has no requirement for insurance and licensure, yet can be ridden at 25 mph plus.
There should be differentiation between souped up e-bikes that are almost as fast as cars and e-scooters, and assisted bikes that have a maximum speed of 20 mph.
What will the police do about tourists renting e-scooters?
How would someone get a license for an e-bike or scooter in just two weeks? What would it cost? Will there be a test?
Who offers suitable insurance and at what cost?
Meanwhile nothing has been done for years about cyclists who ride at night without lights. Just drive from Batabano towards Papagallo and you’ll always find them.
Want to get them off the road? Then stop getting Consulants’ Reports and have a decent, reliable public transport system.
Start by allowing Caymanians with a clean driving license to offer an Uber-like service. Especially in the evenings when taxis are hard to find.
Creation of infrastructure like protected bike lanes, clear parking zones, and safe crossings must come before or alongside e-bike/scooter regulations.
As of today there is no e-bike/scooter infrastructure.
So how much will a scooter rider have to pay for a driver’s licence under the proposed enhanced fee increase?,
Are e-bike and scooter riders also required to wear helmets under the law. If not, then many of these to be enforced laws are really nothing more than revenue generating items. There must be the same head protection required of motorcyclists for the same stated reason: These modes of transport are using the public roadways.
Would our Ministers be allowed to sit at the back of an e bike and have their chauffeur at the controls?.
Two weeks notice, yet these “vehicles” have been on the road for up to 5 years.
They tried licencing mechanically driven bikes in Toronto and the police found it a law impossible to ensure.
The result is we have 80 kg bikes capable of speeds up to 40 kmh barrelling down bike lanes and even sidewalks with complete impunity.
Pedestrians’ greatest danger is being hit on sidewalk by a food delivery biker — a man with no licence who probably isn’t even a citizen of Canada and who will leave the scene rather than face a charge or dangerous driving or even attempted homicide.
So this law is vital.
But even more vital is cars and bikes are not on the same roads. We need to build bike lanes otherwise Cayman laws too will fall into desuetude.