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Erlanger City councilors opt for education, not ordinance, on motorized scooters
Summary
Council members discussed recurring complaints about motorized scooters and agreed to pursue community education — including using a soon-to-be-hired community engagement coordinator and school resource officers — rather than proposing new local ordinances at this time.
Council member Jasper Lucas said the city will prioritize community education over new ordinances after recurring complaints about motorized scooters on Erlanger City streets and sidewalks.
"My intention in discussing this and proposing legislation was not to propose something that would involve giving citations to children," Lucas said, adding that he and staff agreed that community education is the immediate course of action. Lucas said he discussed the issue with the city attorney, Assistant Chief Fleming, and City Administrator Mark Collier.
Lucas and staff recommended using the new community engagement coordinator position — funded in this year's budget and expected to be filled soon — to lead a public safety campaign about scooter use. Lucas also said Assistant Chief Fleming agreed to engage school resource officers to educate students on safe scooter habits.
Council members emphasized that scooter riders must follow the same traffic laws as motor vehicles when riding in the street and that riders on sidewalks must yield to pedestrians. Lucas urged residents to report neighborhood scooter concerns to the police nonemergency number so officers can respond to specific problem areas.
City Administrator Mark Collier confirmed the community engagement coordinator role was intended to handle projects like public safety campaigns and said he was "excited to get that hired and already have their first assignment." No ordinance or citation policy was proposed during the caucus; councilors agreed to watch how the education effort proceeds before pursuing legislation.
The discussion referenced KRS as the existing state law framework that governs scooters and similar devices; Lucas said the planned education would include what KRS currently says about hoverboards, Segways and similar devices and how to safely operate them within the city.
The council did not take a formal vote on an ordinance or other binding action. Instead, members recorded a direction to staff to pursue community education and to involve school resource officers in student outreach. The council will revisit the issue if neighborhood reports or enforcement data indicate additional steps are needed.
The scooter discussion took place at the start of the caucus meeting as an agenda item and was not part of public comment.
