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Council to add e-scooters to city code; item set for first reading
Summary
Councilmembers discussed ordinance 25-08 to explicitly add electric scooters to the code sections that govern bicycles and electric bicycles and agreed to bring the ordinance for first reading at the regular meeting. Legal staff said the existing code already covers some motorized bikes but the ordinance clarifies sidewalk rules.
Wilmington — Councilmembers reviewed ordinance 25-08, which would amend city code to add electronic scooters to the code sections that regulate bicycles and electric bicycles.
At the workshop Mr. Schleibauer introduced the item as a clarification addition. "The way I understand it, we're just simply adding e scooters or electronic scooters to our code that defines where they can be riding, which, is gonna be in the same sections as bicycles, electric bicycles," Schleibauer said.
Councilmembers asked whether the language would also cover electric bicycles or motorized bicycles. Legal staff and other members said electric bicycles were already in the code and that the proposed change is intended to clarify enforcement on sidewalks in the downtown district. One councilmember asked whether the term "motorized" would cover gasoline-powered bikes as well; staff confirmed the ordinance language about motorized bicycles would not be limited to electric power.
The legal department noted its prior opinion that motorized bicycles are covered by the sidewalk prohibition in downtown; the ordinance would make the prohibition explicit for e-scooters. Council indicated the item is slated for first reading at the regular council meeting and that further technical edits could be proposed before second reading.
No final vote was taken in the workshop; council scheduled the ordinance for first reading at the regular meeting.
