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Residents press Wilkes‑Barre council on parking, e‑bikes and traffic safety enforcement
Summary
Multiple residents told council about chronic parking violations, unsafe driving and fast e‑bikes; council and staff said parking enforcement hours, food‑truck inspections and e‑bike rules are under review and the health department will enforce food‑truck rules established by the recent ordinance.
Several residents used the May 8 public comment period to press Wilkes‑Barre City Council on parking, unsafe driving and micro‑mobility safety including electric bicycles and scooters.
Angel Mathis described parking on Stanton Street between Hazel and Loomis as “horrendous,” saying “cars are literally parked from corner to corner. Someone's gonna die there,” and urged the city to consider extending parking enforcement hours beyond current schedules. Mathis also asked whether a market located near the food‑truck area was properly zoned.
Tom Gagotek linked the parking and cutting‑through‑lots problem to pedestrian safety and the increasing presence of e‑bikes and scooters. “There’s somebody going down… No helmet going as fast as they could. Cars are behind them. It creates problems,” Gagotek said, and urged clearer rules for e‑bikes and enforcement.
Councilwoman Maclay asked for an updated list of food‑truck inspections from April; Mayor George Brown replied that food trucks are regulated by the health department under the recently passed ordinance. “Food trucks are regulated with this ordinance that we just passed, by the health department,” Brown said. The mayor added officials are working on e‑bike rules but that the subject is complex because different classifications of bikes exist.
Council members said they will look into yellow paint at corners and other parking‑control measures. Council staff noted that some private‑property markets are on private property and that zoning is being checked.
Separately, Councilman Merrin raised the boarded and deteriorating Stanton Lanes building, noting that letters have been sent to owners and that city staff will take further action where property owners fail to address graffiti and maintenance. Residents also urged improved maintenance at Wilkes‑Barre Cemetery; the mayor said a city cemetery committee has been recruiting volunteers for monument restoration and that city crews cut grass.
No formal motions or ordinances were adopted during public comment on these topics; council instructed staff to follow up on parking lines, zoning for the market near the food‑truck locations, and to provide the requested food‑truck inspection list.
