Ashwaubenon committee splits on sidewalk rules for bicycles; forwards motorized-device ordinance to Village Board without recommendation

The Ashwaubenon Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee on Jan. 13 debated a proposed amendment to village code that would adopt Wisconsin statutory definitions for bicycles and several electric devices, prohibit electric scooters from sidewalks and recreational trails, and leave a divided committee to forward the draft to the Village Board without the committee taking a formal recommendation on whether conventional bicycles should be allowed on sidewalks.

The draft ordinance would remove local, written definitions and instead adopt definitions “as defined by Wisconsin state statutes,” a change explained by a staff presenter as intended to keep the village code in sync with future state law changes and to make enforcement easier. Committee member Joel (staff member) explained, “If statutes get amended or changed then we would need to change our code by just defining it by statute. From a law enforcement standpoint, it's real easy for them.”

Why it matters: The change affects where different devices can legally operate within the village and how police would cite violations. The committee’s split centered on safety, enforceability and whether state law treats electric bicycles the same as conventional bicycles.

Major points and committee debate

- Definitions by statute: The draft uses the village code reference to Wisconsin statutes for baseline definitions. Joel said the draft references Wisconsin statutes previously enumerated in the code (noting the village’s chapter 7 traffic code) and that statutes recently added sections addressing electric bicycles. The draft specifically picks up the statutory paragraphs that include electric bicycles.

- Electric bicycles vs. electric scooters: Staff told the committee that, by statute, “electric bicycles are treated exactly the same way that ordinary bicycles have” while electric scooters are defined and treated differently. The draft adds electric scooters (as defined by state law) to the list of devices disallowed from operating on sidewalks or recreational trails.

- Sidewalk riding for bicycles and e-bikes: Committee members split on whether to remove the local allowance for bicycles on sidewalks. Jessica (committee member) argued for keeping sidewalk riding available for many residents and said, “I strongly feel like they should be able to ride on sidewalks,” citing parents, children and residents in independent-living neighborhoods who commonly use sidewalks. Other members urged consistency with adjacent communities and noted safety concerns at driveway conflict points and arterial streets: “On our higher speed roads maybe… it is safer for someone to be on the road,” a committee member said.

- Enforcement and education: Several members noted enforcement would likely be limited in practice and that either policy choice (allow or disallow sidewalk riding) would require education for users. Joel summarized the tradeoff: whichever policy is chosen, “education is required” to change user behavior and reduce conflicts.

Committee actions and outcome

- The committee first voted on a motion to recommend the draft ordinance as proposed to the Village Board; the committee recorded a 4-2 tally in favor of that motion (tally stated by the chair as “4 2”). The transcript did not list individual named votes for that tally.

- Facing continued division over the sidewalk provision, the committee then adopted a subsequent motion to forward the draft ordinance to the Village Board “without a recommendation” from the committee. That second motion was moved by Jessica (committee member) and later recorded as “Motion carried” by the chair; no roll-call tally for the second motion was recorded in the transcript.

Next steps

- The Village Board will receive the draft ordinance and the committee’s note that members did not reach consensus on the sidewalk allowance for bicycles. The committee record shows agreement on the other proposed code changes (definitions and the prohibition of electric scooters on sidewalks/trails), while the sidewalk question remains for Village Board consideration.

Ending

The committee’s split leaves the final policy on sidewalk riding — particularly how to distinguish conventional bicycles from higher-speed electric devices — to the Village Board. Staff and committee members repeatedly emphasized that any local decision will come with education needs and that Brown County and neighboring municipalities’ rules were part of members’ deliberations.