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Committee supports revising Fayetteville e‑scooter crosswalk rule; proposal headed to transportation committee
Summary
Staff proposed aligning the city's e‑scooter crosswalk language with the bicycle code so riders may remain mounted when operating safely; the Active Transportation Advisory Committee moved and seconded support to forward the draft ordinance to the transportation committee.
City staff reviewed the existing bicycle and electric‑scooter language and proposed changing the e‑scooter crosswalk rule so that properly defined scooters would be treated like bicycles at crosswalks rather than being required to dismount.
Staff explained that the current local ordinance — carried over from earlier state wording — requires a person operating an electric scooter in a pedestrian crosswalk to dismount and walk the device to obtain pedestrian protections. The proposed revision would mirror the bicycle ordinance adopted in 2022 and allow riders to remain mounted provided they operate “safely and reasonably” and comply with other code provisions.
A staff presenter summarized state definitions used to differentiate scooter classes (the presentation cited a 750‑watt motor maximum, a weight limit under 100 pounds and a category whose top speed is treated differently), and the police captain advised the committee that higher speeds and the standing posture of some scooters create enforcement and safety concerns.
When asked if the change would match the bicycle ordinance, staff answered that it would: “Everything’s the same, really,” they said, aside from the technical definitions. After committee discussion, a member moved and another seconded support for forwarding the proposed ordinance change; the chair confirmed the committee would send the recommendation to the transportation committee for consideration.
No formal vote tally was recorded in the transcript; staff said the next step is transportation committee review rather than immediate local law change.
