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New Milford council adopts ordinance regulating scooters, e-bikes and skateboards
Summary
The New Milford mayor and council adopted Ordinance 2026 COL 17 to regulate where bicycles, electric scooters, skateboards and similar personal mobility devices may be operated, emphasizing education and safe routing rather than criminal penalties.
New Milford — The borough’s mayor and council voted to adopt Ordinance 2026 COL 17 on final reading, establishing rules for the operation of bicycles, scooters, skateboards, low-speed electric bicycles and similar personal transportation devices within borough limits.
The ordinance, read into the record at the June work session, is framed as safety-focused: its stated purpose is to set where such devices may be ridden and to encourage education of children and adults about safe riding practices rather than to primarily penalize violators. The clerk read the ordinance language amending Chapter 7 (Traffic) of the borough code.
Council members asked whether the ordinance requires helmets and how enforcement would work. The council was told the measure governs permitted riding locations rather than helmet use, and speakers suggested the borough will rely on an education program through schools and enforcement by the police department to implement the rules. One council member said an education campaign is preferable but also urged some enforcement measures for repeat unsafe use.
The ordinance was opened for public hearing; no members of the public came forward. The council then moved to adopt the ordinance on final reading and recorded affirmative votes. The clerk completed the adoption steps for Ordinance 2026 COL 17.
The ordinance text, as read at the meeting, lists device types (manual and motorized bicycles, scooters, skateboards, low-speed electric scooters and similar devices) and sets borough guidelines for where they may be operated; it also directs staff to prioritize public education. The council did not add a helmet mandate to the ordinance at this meeting.
The council did not specify an enforcement schedule at the session; follow-up action is expected to come through police procedures and the borough’s planned education outreach.
