Batavia Chamber outlines August programs; local ebike shop urges rider education and safety

Margaret (president and CEO) of the Batavia Chamber told the City Council on Aug. 4 about a slate of August events, new Chamber Bucks online ordering and member-focused programs, and urged residents to begin consumer-vetting with the chamber when hiring local services. Margaret said the chamber is running several member promotions and educational events in August, including an Aug. 7 Chamber Eats lunch at El Taco Grande, a not-for-profit forum Aug. 8, networking on Aug. 13 at Urban Apothecary, and a multi-chamber progressive luncheon on Aug. 14. She also noted ribbon cuttings, a tax-impact webinar and a Sept. 23 meet-and-greet with aldermen at Windmill Grill. She said Chamber Bucks orders can now be placed online and that the chamber continues to underwrite the program to support local spending. The chamber introduced Steve Bogie of Bogie Bikes as an exemplary member. Bogie described sales, rentals, guided tours and maintenance, and said electric bicycles have become more common. He urged more community education for riders and pedestrians, and proposed working with the school district or park district on safety instruction. Council members and staff discussed existing K–8 bicycle and pedestrian safety instruction in schools and asked about insurance and liability for ebikes; Bogie said most class 1–3 electric bikes are treated as bicycles under current law and are not commonly insured for liability, though higher-powered bikes raise separate regulatory and safety questions. The chamber also encouraged residents to begin vetting businesses through the chamber’s membership process; Margaret said the chamber meets members individually and that membership is widely seen as a signal of credibility while noting she cannot legally refuse membership. No council action was taken; the presentation served as information and a member spotlight.