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Tonganoxie staff present draft e-mobility ordinance emphasizing education over enforcement and clarifying device classes
Summary
City staff presented a draft ordinance to classify and regulate e-mobility devices; police Chief Greg Lawson and staffer Anna Kerslick focused on safety, state-law ambiguity for electric motorcycles, parental responsibility, helmet rules and possible park restrictions; staff will redraft based on council input and return for formal consideration.
City staff presented an initial reading of a draft e-mobility ordinance at the March 16 Tonganoxie City Council meeting, outlining device classifications, enforcement philosophy and proposed limits on where higher-speed electric devices may be used.
Mr. Bryovich introduced the item and asked Chief Greg Lawson and Anna Kerslick to summarize staff's work developing the draft. Chief Lawson said state statute rewrites have left ambiguity about whether some electric two-wheeled vehicles are treated as motorcycles or as bicycles under state law. That ambiguity, Lawson said, creates enforcement problems for local officers and confusing rules for residents.
"We are about education. We are not about enforcement," Chief Lawson told the council, describing the department's preference for warnings and outreach—especially for minors—while reserving tickets or parental-citation options for repeat or willful violations.
Staff described three technical device classes in the draft: class 1 pedal-assist bicycles, class 2 motor-propelled bicycles (with speed limits near 20 mph), and class 3 pedal-assist bicycles with higher-capability assist. Staff said class 2 devices most closely resemble mopeds or low-powered motorcycles and are the main focus for street restrictions; class 1 and many class 3 devices can be treated similarly to ordinary bicycles. Staff recommended helmet requirements (notably for riders under 18) and indicated that class 2 operators should hold a driver's license to use streets.
Councilmembers asked about sidewalks, parks and private-property rules. Staff said sidewalks would generally allow non-class-2 devices except in the Fourth Street business district, parks and public trails could be restricted for certain devices, and private-property rules (including school grounds or organization properties like the VFW) would be enforced per property owner policy or as trespass if needed.
Staff emphasized the draft is intended to reduce confusion for residents and to provide clear local ordinance language that aligns with—but does not exceed—state law. No formal vote was taken; staff said they will revise the draft and return it to a future council agenda for formal consideration.
Next steps: Staff will redraft the ordinance to reflect tonight's feedback and aim to place a final ordinance on a subsequent agenda for council action.
