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Bryan City Council withdraws Segway-focused ordinance, tables e-scooter rules for rewrite
Summary
Council dropped an ordinance aimed at Segways and asked staff to redraft an ordinance focused on low-speed e-scooters and e-bikes with clearer age, helmet and route rules; council instructed staff to return with a revised draft for more public review.
The Bryan City Council on a unanimous vote dropped an ordinance that council members said focused narrowly on Segways and then moved to reconsider and ultimately table a separate draft that would regulate low-speed micromobility devices such as e-scooters.
The change came after a lengthy discussion about which state law sections apply and whether local limits on age or helmet use are permitted. “This ordinance has been the absolute bane of my existence,” the mayor said as council members debated how broadly the city should regulate newer electric devices.
Councilmembers and staff said state law is unclear about which devices are covered by which Ohio Revised Code sections. Mark (staff member) told council that some code sections the city had reviewed apply specifically to Segways and that “there’s no provision about helmets” in the cited state sections. Council members said that gap and conflicting online summaries prompted them to ask staff for more research.
Council directed staff to redraft ordinance 19 (the low-speed micromobility draft previously before council) to include clearer, enforceable options for age and equipment requirements and to consider points raised by the police chief and other stakeholders. One council member asked staff to prepare a more restrictive draft (for council to remove from, rather than add to) so members could consider taking provisions out rather than adding them later.
Formal actions taken during the session: council moved to withdraw the ordinance that had been read that evening (ordinance 26-2025, the Segway-focused draft) and then voted to take ordinance 19 (the e-scooter/micromobility draft) off the table so staff could rework it. After discussion, council voted to table ordinance 19 again to allow time for a revised draft and for public notice and comment.
Councilmembers emphasized enforcement and clarity: they repeatedly noted differences between e-scooters, electric bicycles and mopeds; that state law already regulates some categories (for example, certain rules applying to electric bicycles or motorized bicycles); and that local rules should be specific about where devices may operate (for example, whether they may be used on Main and High streets or only cross at signals). Several council members said they have observed children riding e-scooters in neighborhoods and near schools and asked staff to consult with the police chief and school resource officers on education and enforcement strategies.
The council did not adopt any new age or helmet requirements at the meeting. Councilmembers asked staff to prepare a revised ordinance for future consideration, requested more factual research on applicable Ohio Revised Code sections (including the low-speed micromobility statute), and asked that any new draft be publicized so residents have an opportunity to comment before final action.
