Upper Arlington, Hilliard and other Columbus suburbs are continuing to put in place new electric bike and scooter regulations to address traffic safety concerns.
Transit advocates say some news laws are needed, but some proposals are going too far. While Hilliard is requiring riders under the age of 18 to wear a helmet and restricting where faster e-bikes can ride, Upper Arlington is considering a proposal to require e-bikes and scooters to register with the city or face fines.
TransitColumbus Policy Chair Will Titus told WOSU as these forms of transport gain popularity, cities should also add infrastructure to make it safer for pedestrians, drivers and bike and scooter riders alongside new laws.
"If we could potentially create a solution where the bike has a safe place to go, they won't feel that the only safe place for them is on the sidewalk," Titus said.
Many of the new regulations are aimed at younger riders. In Hilliard, riders have to be at least 16 years old to ride a Class 3 e-bike.
Class 3 e-bikes are those with pedal assistance that can reach speeds up to 28 miles per hour, but can also run without pedaling. Class 2 e-bikes operate similarly but max out at 20 miles per hour. Class 1 e-bikes require riders to pedal to activate the motor and max out at 20 miles per hour.
Another law in place in Hilliard puts the onus for violations by minors on parents and guardians. The city says parents of children who ride recklessly and violate the city’s regulations could face a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and higher charges for future offenses.
Titus said he can see the argument for a law like this, but pointed out that there aren't similar criminal penalties for parents whose children drive a car recklessly, breaking laws.
"I don't think we generally blame the parent in that case. And so I think there's an overall, big picture transportation, what role does the parent play in their kids mobility and riding? And I think that should apply to more than just the e-bikes themselves," Titus said.
Some suburbs are instituting restrictions on where these alternative forms of transportation can ride. In Hilliard, the city lays out rules for where the e-bikes can be ridden.
E-bikes may be ridden on sidewalks if the motor is not engaged, but are restricted to streets and shared use paths if the motor is used. Class 3 e-bikes, however, are not allowed on shared use paths.
Many cities, like Columbus, prohibit bikes and scooters on the sidewalk.
E-scooters are only allowed on streets with a posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour, whereas e-bikes are allowed on any streets, except freeways.
Titus criticized Upper Arlington and a proposal that would require scooters and bikes to register with the city, pointing out that residents of Columbus and other communities may be fined if they don't register with Upper Arlington.
"That's very problematic because if you're, say, taking a bike ride from Hilliard to OSU's campus and you have to drive or bike through Upper Arlington, you shouldn't be expected to have to get three different cities bike registrations," Titus said.
People without an Ohio driver's license who don't register their bikes could face fines or have their devices impounded by Upper Arlington if the law is passed.
