Lock Haven council and police discuss e-bikes, scooters and levee safety; refined ordinance expected

Lock Haven City Council and the police chief opened a broad discussion on personal mobility devices — including e-bikes and electric scooters — emphasizing safety, enforcement and the need to refine city code.

The police chief described a mix of devices causing community safety concerns and said enforcement and public education are the primary tools: officers will focus on enforcing existing laws while the city develops clearer ordinance language and an education campaign. “The issue we have is a combination. It’s e-bikes, it’s scooters, it’s bicycles,” the chief said, and added that education and enforcement will take “a whole lot of effort.”

Council members and members of the public described specific problem locations including the levee, Main Street business district, and sidewalks near Lock Haven University. Council and police distinguished between devices meant for pedestrians (mobility-assist devices) and e-bikes, which the chief said are “street-only” vehicles under the current interpretation and therefore not legal on sidewalks or the levee. The chief said a revised ordinance will better set out those distinctions and enforcement expectations.

Staff said the next council meeting will include a more refined ordinance draft that expands the existing code (which currently focuses on pedal cycles) to address newer vehicle types, and that the city intends to run a public-education campaign using court public-service announcements, campus door-hangers and local media. Council members urged community members to help “police ourselves” by calling out unsafe behavior and informing riders of legal restrictions.

No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; council directed staff and police to prepare a draft and an outreach plan for future consideration.