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Pottstown solicitor previews ordinance updates for scooters, e-bikes and similar devices
Summary
Borough Solicitor Chuck Garner told council the ordinance review committee will propose updates to local traffic rules covering scooters, e-bikes, skateboards and similar devices; council will decide enforcement priorities and possible helmet, registration and speed requirements at upcoming meetings.
Borough Solicitor Chuck Garner told Pottstown Borough Council on June 4 that the ordinance review committee is preparing revisions to the borough traffic ordinance to address emerging personal mobility devices.
Garner said the revisions will cover a range of vehicles now common downtown and elsewhere. “We’re talking about scooters. We’re talking about bicycles. We’re talking about electric scooters. We’re talking about skateboards, pedicycles, electric bikes, motorbike,” Garner said during the meeting, adding the rules would need to clarify licensing, registration, helmet use, locations where devices may operate and maximum permitted speeds.
The proposals are intended to fill gaps between the state vehicle code and local authority, Garner said. “On some issues, the vehicle code seems to either be silent or may be not so crystal clear,” he told council. He said the draft ordinance will give borough police clearer citation language and asked council to set enforcement priorities — high, medium or low — because the department’s resources are limited.
Police Chief Hand, responding to Garner, said the department routinely handles these devices and agreed clearer local rules would help enforcement. Councilor Andrew Proskol asked whether certain vehicles would be limited to bike lanes; Garner replied that limits would depend on the device type and where the state code is silent, local ordinance could set locations.
No ordinance vote was taken; Garner said drafts will be presented for council review in upcoming meetings and that the ordinance review committee expects to return more detail in July. Council members and staff discussed enforcement practicality, noise and whether cameras could assist with certain moving violations, but noted cameras have limited value for some speeding and noise complaints.
The council did not adopt any rule at the meeting; the solicitor asked councilors to review the forthcoming draft and to indicate enforcement priorities once it is circulated.
