Lenox council opts to start with education on motorized scooters, seeks school and police cooperation

Lenox — City council members discussed a recent rise in motorized scooter use and agreed to begin with community education and school partnerships rather than an immediate ordinance.

The item was added at the request of council members. A staff memo referenced an attorney‑general opinion and recent ordinances in nearby cities as background. Chief Erickson told council the problem increased markedly this year and said enforcement has been limited by clarity and scale: “This year, somebody had a good sale on them. Everybody's got one,” he said, describing widespread ownership and younger riders this season.

Council members and staff raised safety concerns, including scooters and bicycles running stop signs and operating on streets where vehicle traffic is present. Chief Erickson noted that bicycles operating on roadways are required to follow the same traffic rules as vehicles, and that younger riders often lack that training.

Rather than immediately adopting a local ordinance patterned on another city, council members asked the police and staff to pursue an education‑first approach: coordinate with the school and partners to revive a bike/scooter safety program, distribute helmets and hold a “scooter rodeo” or safety course, and identify an officer to act as a liaison for training and enforcement. One councilmember suggested a permitting or sticker system tied to a safety course as a later option to consider.

No ordinance or rule change was adopted at the meeting; the council’s direction was to develop an education and outreach plan and report back with options for enforcement that would be fair and enforceable for Lenox residents.

Ending — Staff will coordinate with the school, police and community partners on an education campaign and report back with recommendations for any regulatory or permitting steps if education proves insufficient.