Fort Thomas council narrows 'walk your wheels' zones, requires bikes and e‑scooters to be walked on sidewalks in those areas

Council member (Speaker 1) said the city will narrow where bicycles and electric scooters must be walked on sidewalks, proposing the rule apply only inside defined business-district ‘‘walk your wheels’’ zones rather than across entire commercial corridors. "No person should ride any electric bicycle or electric scooter on the sidewalk within the business district," he said, reading proposed ordinance language to the council.

The council framed the change as a targeted safety measure for blocks with high pedestrian exposure, not a blanket prohibition. The package discussed at the meeting would require electric bicycles and scooters to be walked on sidewalks within the specified zones; pedal bicycles could be included at the council’s discretion. Speaker 2 urged keeping the restricted areas small to improve compliance, while Speaker 5 warned that overly broad limits would push children and other riders into the street.

Why it matters: council members said narrower zones are intended to protect pedestrians where doors open directly onto sidewalks and where cafes and patio seating increase foot traffic. Speaker 2 noted the east side of several commercial streets has storefronts that open directly onto sidewalks and so creates higher risk of collisions with riders.

The council also debated equipment and enforcement details. Speaker 1 read equipment provisions that include lighting; members rejected a universal bell mandate as difficult to enforce, favoring a requirement that riders give an audible alert before overtaking pedestrians. "Use your voice," Speaker 1 said when arguing for verbal alerts rather than mandatory bells.

On helmets and earbuds, the council leaned toward education instead of a strict requirement. Speaker 1 proposed requiring helmets for riders under 16 but members noted age is hard to assess in the field. Councilors instead discussed continuing helmet giveaway programs and safety messaging. For earbuds and noise‑cancelling headphones the group favored public‑education materials rather than an enforceable ban.

The draft ordinance removes the older age‑based sidewalk ban that previously prohibited sidewalk riding for anyone 12 and older; councilors concluded that provision was impractical to enforce. Enforcement would include a fixed penalty of $25 for violations, with customary warnings expected before tickets are issued, Speaker 1 said.

Next steps: Speaker 1 said staff will update the ordinance text, prepare a map showing the defined safety-walking/business zones and produce revised signage that reflects the targeted areas. The council signaled it will begin with limited blocks (bank block, restaurant islands and selected stretches in Inverness and Midway) and adjust the plan if problems arise.