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Commissioner Hwitt moves to expand scooter rules to include electric bicycles
Summary
At a Millville City work session, Commissioner Hwitt said he will nullify an earlier electric-scooter ordinance and bring forward a revised ordinance on first reading to add electric bicycles, require helmets, and apply LSV tagging and a 20 mph threshold to faster devices; no vote was taken at the work session.
Commissioner Hwitt said the city will revise its existing electric-scooter ordinance to include electric bicycles and related safety requirements, describing the change as a first-reading ordinance on the commission’s agenda.
"Originally, it's electric scooters only. We're nullifying that and bringing forward a new one to add to that electric bicycles," Commissioner Hwitt said, arguing the city needs clearer rules because the devices "are all over the place in town." He cited a recent accident in which the person was OK and said the draft ordinance would require helmets for covered devices.
Hwitt said the ordinance language would target vehicles that can reach more than 20 miles per hour and would require a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) tag for those that fast, similar to the tags used on neighborhood golf carts. He also raised the practical question of where assistive or low-speed mobility devices should operate, noting concerns about sidewalk safety and roadway placement for some devices.
The work session transcript records discussion and questions about helmet requirements and sidewalk use but does not show a formal vote or adoption. Commissioner Hwitt said he will present the revised ordinance for first reading; any later vote would occur at a regular meeting where the ordinance is formally considered.
