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Council hears repeated calls to curb ATV and electric bike dangers on Scranton streets
Summary
Multiple residents and council members urged stronger enforcement or legislative remedies for unlicensed ATVs and increasingly common electric bikes; council requested police follow-up and possible outreach to state legislators.
Several residents and council members pressed the city to take stronger action on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and electric bicycles operating on city streets and sidewalks, citing safety risks to pedestrians and motorists.
Resident Les Spindler said the city was "doing nothing" about ATVs and urged council to write to state Sen. Marty Flynn to seek legislation limiting liability and enabling police to pursue vehicles. He said the police told him officers do not chase ATVs because of fear of liability. Council member McAndrew and others described seeing electric bikes—often ridden by children without helmets—darting through downtown and residential streets.
Council members said the municipal ordinance was amended in recent years to align with state law, including seizure and impoundment procedures, but warned enforcement is challenging. McAndrew asked the solicitor to review the ordinance and police strategy, including non-pursuit tactics such as camera triangulation. The council asked the administration and police to revisit enforcement plans and report back; one council member suggested contacting the state legislator about changing liability rules to allow safer enforcement strategies.
No new ordinance was passed at the meeting; the council directed staff to follow up with the police department and the solicitor to outline enforcement options and to consider whether further local ordinance changes or state legislative remedies are needed.
