Upper Arlington council debates ordinance to ban motorized devices on park paths, carve out assistive-device exceptions

Upper Arlington City Council debated a proposed ordinance (No. 6-2025) on Feb. 10 that would amend Chapter 383 and related park rules to prohibit motor- or battery-propelled devices on park paths while expressly permitting electric wheelchairs and other personal assistive mobility devices.

The proposed ordinance, introduced by Senior Attorney Sean, would consolidate traffic rules that apply to all non-pedestrian modes of transport, update outdated language (including rules about roller skates and motorized bicycles), and add or clarify park rules such as a prohibition on animal releases, an expanded smoking ban to include vaping and e-cigarettes, and clearer criteria for vendors seeking business permits in parks. Senior Attorney Sean said the change would allow the city to regulate “behavior rather than mode,” and make the code easier to adapt to future devices.

The ordinance’s principal park provision would bar devices “used to transport people that are propelled by motor or electricity” from park paths. Senior Attorney Sean told council, “If you have an e‑bike and you’re actually pedaling it like a bike, because they are bikes, that’s okay because it’s not powered by the power.” He added the draft explicitly permits “electric wheelchairs and personal assistive mobility devices.”

The draft also replaces the existing traffic-code section with broader language meant…