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Council to study e-bike safety rules after members describe high-speed devices on city streets and greenways
Summary
Council members described unsafe high-powered e-bikes and other motorized devices and directed staff and legal counsel to take regulatory groundwork to the Traffic & Transportation Committee for enforceable rules.
Charleston council members on Oct. 14 raised safety concerns about high-powered electric bikes and other motorized devices and agreed to direct staff and legal counsel to develop enforceable measures.
Councilman Greg said complaints from constituents in his district center on devices he called "e-motorcycles" that exceed typical e-bike power and travel at high speeds on arterials such as Clements Ferry Road. He told the council police in his district lack tools to remove such vehicles from the roadway.
Councilmember Seekings said staff, legal counsel and Police Chief Walker will take the issue to the Traffic and Transportation Committee (TNT) to develop definitions and enforceable approaches. "We will take it up in this calendar year and get something on the books," Seekings said.
Councilmembers Appel and Mitchell urged a broad approach that includes city-owned greenways and motorized skateboards, and suggested enforcement tactics such as using mounted patrols on trails. No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the council instructed staff to draft proposals and return with recommended language and enforcement plans.
