Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Micro Mobility Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Shawnee to add scooters to code, council backs helmet rule for under-18s and education-first enforcement
Summary
Staff proposed clarifying Shawnee code to explicitly cover scooters and single-wheel devices; police recommended education and complaint-based enforcement. Council signaled support for adding scooters/unicycles to the code and for a helmet requirement for people under 18.
City staff told the Shawnee City Council they will add motorized scooters and single-wheel devices to the city code and pursue an education-based approach to enforcement, with a helmet requirement for minors.
City Prosecutor Lina Bellman reviewed current ordinances governing bicycles, electric-assisted bicycles (capped at 20 mph) and motorized bicycles (up to 30 mph). Bellman said the city lacks a dedicated scooter provision and proposed amending the "motorized skateboard" language to include scooters and single-wheel devices; she also suggested changing the definition from "two wheels" to "one wheel" contact so unicycles are covered.
Bellman explained enforcement would remain traffic infractions with fines and court costs; she cited court costs at about $23.50. "If we made no changes today, we are essentially looking at having our bicycles defined, for sidewalks and roadways, our e-bikes and motorized bikes being limited to just roadways," Bellman said, adding that a targeted ordinance would make enforcement clearer for officers.
Police Chief Sam Larson said the department has received few calls but reported three minor crashes involving scooters or e-bikes. Larson urged education as the primary tool: "education, education, education," he said, describing plans to work with the school district and HOAs and to create brochures and social-media outreach.
Council members raised enforceability concerns: staff said speed limits for scooters would be difficult to enforce with existing equipment but that the council could add a helmet requirement and prohibit scooters from sidewalks if desired. Staff recommended aligning any helmet age with the existing motorized-bicycle rule; the city currently requires helmets for motorized bicycles under 18.
Council members signaled majority support to amend the code to explicitly include scooters and single-wheel devices, require helmets for riders under 18, and emphasize public education rather than aggressive enforcement of children. Staff will draft ordinance language and educational materials and return to council for formal consideration.
