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Council discusses scooters, opts for education and outreach rather than ordinance for now
Summary
Council discussion, led by Corey, reviewed scooter rules in other Nebraska cities and recommended holding off on a local ordinance in favor of education and community outreach including a planned 'coffee with a cop' event to gather feedback.
Council discussion on personal electric scooters centered on whether Holdridge should adopt a local ordinance. The council, beginning the discussion with a report from Corey, reviewed other Nebraska cities’ approaches and did not advance a local ordinance at this meeting; members suggested education and community outreach instead.
Corey told the council he researched ordinances in Lincoln and Omaha and said those cities enforce strict rules because they operate rental scooter programs; he said operators in those cities must have a driver's license to operate rental scooters. Corey said Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney were also consulted and the group concluded the city should not move immediately to a new ordinance for privately owned scooters.
Corey recommended using community outreach and education — including helmet promotion and safety protocols — and suggested partnering with the local hospital. He said anecdotal reports exist of children being injured or upsetting neighbors but that the council does not yet know the full scope of incidents and that a new ordinance could create enforcement burdens.
Council members discussed the option of postponing ordinance drafting and instead conducting outreach. As part of that outreach, the record shows a planned community event: a “coffee with a cop” next Thursday between 9 and 10 a.m. where residents can raise scooter complaints and speak with officers. No ordinance motion or enforcement change was adopted at the meeting.
