Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and police urge caution over electric scooters and bikes near schools
Summary
During public comment at the Oct. 7 Village of Manhattan board meeting a resident described fast, unlit electric scooters and battery bicycles on Cedar Road and Smith Road near school routes; the police chief said officers have begun stopping some riders and urged parental education.
A resident told the Village of Manhattan board on Oct. 7 that she observed young riders on battery bicycles and electric scooters traveling at high speeds on Cedar Road and Smith Road — roads with posted speed limits near 55 mph — and called for increased awareness and safety education for parents and children.
"It was like a motorcycle. They were on the road...on a road that's a speed limit of 55 miles an hour," the resident said during the public‑comment period, describing two separate incidents that occurred on consecutive days. She said riders were operating battery‑powered bikes and scooters at night without visible seating or lights and urged parents to talk with their children about street safety.
Manhattan's police chief told the board the department has seen an increase in small electric bikes and scooters and has had to stop "one or two" riders for safety concerns. The chief said officers recently stopped a student leaving the junior high on a scooter and spoke with the student and a parent who were present.
"A little education with the parents...and I'm talking to kids will go a long way," the chief said, describing the recent contacts as part of routine enforcement and outreach. The chief also noted the department helped run a bike rodeo that drew more participants than the prior year and involved EMA, the fire department, and other partners.
Why it matters
Board action earlier in the meeting to seek IDOT Safe Routes to School funding frames the public comment: the Safe Routes program could fund infrastructure and education that help children walk or bike to school safely. Residents' observations of high‑speed scooters on roads used by school commuters underscore the local relevance of safety planning and potential grant applications.
What’s next
No formal action on scooter rules was taken at the meeting. The police chief said the department will continue enforcement and education efforts; the Safe Routes application approved by the board could, if funded, support safety improvements and related outreach for students in Manhattan.
Provenance
Public comment describing electric scooters on Cedar Road and Smith Road: transcript block beginning "I'm so glad we are doing something about the traffic to school..."; police chief remarks: transcript block starting "Just a couple of things..."
