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Fayetteville advisory committee reviews crash reports, backs scooter ordinance change to match bicycles
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Summary
The Fayetteville Active Transportation Advisory Committee reviewed six recent pedestrian/cyclist incidents, discussed hit-and-run and dusk collisions, and heard staff say a proposed ordinance change will align electric-scooter crosswalk rules with bicycle protections and eliminate a dismount requirement. Members raised enforcement and visibility concerns.
Chair David Criswell opened the Oct. 8 meeting with a police update on recent nonmotorist collisions across the city, including incidents at Dixon, Futrell, MLK, Sycamore and Steamboat.
Officer and staff presenters summarized six recent crashes, noting one dusk collision at Dixon where a left‑turning vehicle struck a westbound bicyclist and an incident at Sycamore/Leverett that the reporting party delayed documenting and later described as a hit-and-run that required hospital care. Officers said witnesses and camera footage were limited in some cases, complicating follow‑up.
Dane, who presented the code change proposal, said the city attorney has reviewed an amendment to the local ordinance that would treat electric scooters in crosswalks the same as bicycles so operators “have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian using the crosswalk.” He said the amendment will go to city council and that staff intends to present it during the next council agenda period.
Committee members asked whether the change eliminates the current requirement for riders to dismount to claim pedestrian protections. According to staff, the revision will align scooter language with the bicycle code so dismounting would not be required. Members also discussed practical enforcement limits and concerns about cyclist and scooter visibility at dusk; officers recommended continued public education and checking crosswalk signals in problem locations.
The meeting produced no formal vote. Staff said they will forward the ordinance amendment to city council and return with an implementation status at a later meeting.
Next steps: staff will submit the ordinance to council as planned; officers and committee members encouraged residents to report incidents through nonemergency channels so investigators can collect timely evidence.
