Clark adopts ordinance on motorized bicycles and scooters; residents press for traffic calming

The Township of Clark council on April 21 adopted Ordinance 25-09, an amendment to the traffic code adding rules for motorized bicycles and scooters. The public hearing drew no speakers; the council adopted the ordinance by roll call.

Mayor Joseph Albanese summarized the measure as a safety initiative. “As we discussed at when this was introduced… it's about safety,” he said during the ordinance adoption process. Officials said the amendment responds to an increase in resident complaints about rider and driver safety over the past 12 months.

The ordinance was followed later in the meeting by public comments on broader traffic safety. Resident Michael Shulman described repeated speeding on Featherbed Lane, near two schools and a community club, and asked the council to direct the engineer and police to study traffic-calming measures, including speed humps, tables or increased enforcement. Shulman told the council he could find no state law prohibiting speed humps and requested a formal study.

Police responded that speed humps are not per se illegal but are subject to placement restrictions (for example, minimum spacing and roadway volume limits). Captain Mike Jacob of the patrol division said the department will deploy a radar trailer to survey speeds and run targeted enforcement in locations with complaints; he added the department can request traffic studies and coordinate with the traffic unit.

Why it matters: The ordinance establishes local rules for motorized personal vehicles that increasingly share neighborhood streets with walkers and school travel routes. The follow-up resident requests and police commitment to data-driven enforcement indicate the issue will return to council with study results or additional action.

The ordinance passed by unanimous roll call; police and public works staff were asked to follow up on traffic data and engineering review for neighborhood requests.