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Connellsville officials debate e‑bike, scooter and golf‑cart rules as accidents rise
Summary
Police, the solicitor and councilors discussed recent accidents involving e‑bikes and scooters, enforcement limits under state rules, and whether the city can adopt local ordinances to restrict golf carts and other motorized devices on busy state roads.
Connellsville council and the police department spent a large portion of their July 17 meeting discussing enforcement of rules for electric bicycles, scooters and low‑speed vehicles after several recent accidents.
Police reported multiple accidents in recent months involving motorized scooters and e‑bikes and said officers are stopping riders who use sidewalks or state roadways that state law may preempt. The city solicitor told council that state law and PennDOT rules largely govern where motorized devices may be operated; at the same time he recommended the city consider local ordinances addressing golf carts and other low‑speed vehicles on certain roads because municipalities are sometimes authorized to regulate those devices.
Chief (name not given at the meeting) described recurring dangerous behavior on Pittsburgh Street where juveniles ride motorized scooters in traffic and on sidewalks. "I've been on Pittsburgh Street many times seeing people ride their scooters," the chief said, noting officers carry the state guidance to explain enforcement to parents. The chief also said the department has seized motorized vehicles in cases where drivers lacked a valid license and that they will continue enforcement.
Solicitor Tim (identified in the meeting) urged caution about preemption: some vehicles (for example, licensed low‑speed carts) are explicitly allowed in statute and municipalities must check whether state law leaves room to regulate. "That's my suggestion — the city adopt some type of ordinance not permitting these carts to be driven on those particular roadways because of our truck traffic," Tim said, referring to safety concerns on routes with heavy truck traffic.
Council members asked about differences between electric‑assist bicycles (which require pedaling) and fully motorized scooters; the chief said distinguishing use in the field is difficult unless the device is traveling at unusually high speeds. The solicitor said if the carts meet statutory definitions and the municipality has adopted implementing ordinances, the city can prohibit them on designated routes with high speeds or heavy truck traffic.
Why it matters: councilors said the city depends on safe multi‑modal transportation and wants to encourage biking while ensuring public safety on state roadways and bridges that carry truck traffic. Officials asked the solicitor to research the preemption question and return with model ordinance language that would limit operation of golf carts and motorized low‑speed vehicles on specified city streets.
No formal vote was taken; staff and the solicitor will prepare potential ordinance language for council consideration at a future meeting.
