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Fort Thomas committee proposes ban on electric bikes, high-speed scooters on sidewalks
Summary
The Fort Thomas Law, Labor and License Committee reviewed a revised Chapter 74 that would bar electric bicycles and high-speed scooters from sidewalks citywide, require devices to be walked in business districts and across crosswalks, and update equipment and penalty rules; staff will return the draft for a first reading in April.
The Fort Thomas Law, Labor and License Committee on Tuesday reviewed a revised Chapter 74 that would prohibit electric bicycles and high-speed electric scooters from sidewalks across the city and require devices to be walked in designated business districts and at crosswalks.
City staff walked the committee through edits to the draft ordinance and explained the markup: struck-through language is proposed removal and underlined text is proposed new language. The revision adds explicit definitions for bicycles, electric bicycles, electric scooters and high-speed scooters (the draft treats devices that can exceed 20 mph as "high-speed"). Staff also proposed renaming the chapter to "bicycles, scooters, and similar devices."
The draft would: ban electric bicycles on sidewalks; ban high-speed scooters on sidewalks; require that bicycles and electric scooters be walked across all crosswalks; require basic equipment such as a front and rear lamp, a bell and brakes; remove licensing and plate requirements for shared or private devices; and set a fine provision tied to impoundment.
"No person shall ride their bicycle or electric scooter across a crosswalk within the city of Fort Thomas," staff read from the draft. The ordinance further states that bicycles and electric scooters "shall be walked across all crosswalks." Committee members expressed support for the crosswalk provision as a safety measure, citing several downtown locations where riders and pedestrians use the same narrow sidewalks.
Members also debated a proposed "rider skill" exception that would allow some riders to remain on sidewalks in the business district if it was unsafe for them to ride in the street. Several members called that standard too subjective and recommended simplifying enforcement by requiring that devices be walked through business districts instead.
Committee discussion touched on enforcement practicality and outreach: members urged a public-information campaign describing the changes and suggested posting a brief five-point summary and marked-up ordinance before the first reading. Staff said it will refine language, harmonize the word "any" in the ordinance clauses, and present the item for a first reading in April.
The committee did not vote on the ordinance at the meeting and requested additional language cleanups and public-notice plans before final consideration.
