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Council discusses pedestrian safety and possible e‑bike restrictions after recent collisions
Summary
Council Member Kramer read a constituent letter urging restrictions on e-bike use downtown, suggested signage and hiring a bicycle-safety officer, and asked staff to consider an ordinance limiting e-bike operation to licensed riders aged 16 and older; no formal ordinance vote was taken.
Council Member Kramer on July 7 brought forward a constituent letter pressing the city to take stronger steps to protect pedestrians from sidewalk and e-bike riders. The letter cited two bicycle-vehicle collisions in two days and recommended signage and an ordinance to restrict e-bike operation on public streets to riders aged 16 and older with a valid driver's license.
Kramer described the letter and relayed a constituent's near-miss on East Lincoln Street. He suggested hiring a part-time bicycle-safety officer — possibly a college student — to monitor downtown sidewalks and Riverfront Park and to educate riders, and urged clearer signage such as "No biking on sidewalks." He referenced a discussion with a state senator who said the proposal had merit at the state level and could be discussed further by state legislators.
Council and staff acknowledged existing bike lanes and trails but discussed enforcement challenges and whether existing city authority could support new age or licensing restrictions for e-bikes. Staff suggested that private citizens and increased public requests to the state assessor or other state processes might influence related issues (note: comments were about property valuation in a separate exchange; the e-bike discussion focused on safety and possible ordinance options).
No formal motion or ordinance vote was recorded on July 7; council asked staff to consider options and education/enforcement approaches.
