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Fort Thomas meeting focuses on enforcing proposed e-bike and scooter ordinance ahead of April reading
Summary
At a Fort Thomas municipal meeting participants centered on enforcement and public education for a proposed e-bike/e-scooter ordinance, citing safety concerns and examples from other cities; city staff plan public outreach before an April first reading.
A Fort Thomas municipal meeting turned to how the city will enforce a proposed ordinance governing electric bicycles and scooters, with participants saying enforcement must accompany any new rules to protect pedestrians and riders.
A committee member opened the discussion by saying enforcement would be “the most challenging part” and urged officials to “come out and say, ‘Hey, this is how it’s going to change ... and we intend to enforce it.’” They characterized the issue as a safety and security concern and highlighted that electric devices can travel much faster than manual bicycles.
Other participants argued having an ordinance on the books provides a legal backstop in cases where someone is injured, drawing an analogy to jaywalking laws that are rarely enforced but shape fault assessments in collisions. Casey raised a related liability point, asking where responsibility would fall if an older person riding on the sidewalk were hurt.
Speakers recommended a robust public-education campaign before the ordinance’s first reading in April so residents understand the practical changes. Participants pointed to other cities for context: San Diego was cited as having removed scooters citywide, while Fort Mitchell was mentioned as having a helmets-only rule. The meeting record shows city leaders expect outreach—via a summary of the ordinance, newsletter notices and possibly school communications—to produce feedback from both device owners and safety-concerned residents.
There was discussion about whether schools should distribute information. Some participants said schools might not want to “advertise” a city law but conceded that school channels could reach many families if the district cooperates. Speakers also noted frequent conversations on local Fort Thomas social-media pages and expected that online feedback would reflect both concerns about sidewalks and support from some users.
Those attending emphasized a preference to regulate rather than ban e-bikes and scooters, saying the goal is to preserve the city’s character and safe mobility options while reducing pedestrian risks. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that was seconded and carried.
The record shows the proposed ordinance will receive a first reading in April and that staff and the chief have discussed advance public messaging; specific enforcement procedures, ticketing policies and numerical targets for compliance were not specified during the discussion.
