Sandusky Commission adopts immediate e-bike rules after residents raise safety concerns

The Sandusky City Commission voted to adopt amendments to the city’s traffic code intended to clarify rules for e-bikes, scooters and similar devices and to make the changes effective immediately under the city charter.

Residents pressed the commission during public comment to address safety on downtown multi-use paths and sidewalks. “The item I want to talk about is item number two. Hopefully, there's some detailed explanation on this change for ebikes and mopeds,” said Pam Schwanker, who gave her address to the commission and asked whether pathway prohibitions on motorized vehicles would apply to e-bikes and mopeds.

At a packed public-comment period, longtime downtown resident Mike Zulhoff said he supported the ordinance but raised questions about helmet rules and vehicles that fall outside the state’s three-class structure. “A class 3 cycle which is limited to 28 m an hour requires a helmet for everyone if I'm reading it correctly,” Zulhoff said, urging clarity and enforcement rather than draconian local measures.

The police chief told the commission the department expects to enforce the new rules and provided department activity numbers to underscore enforcement capacity. “We had 6,500 traffic stops last year in 365 days,” the chief said, adding the department had increased stops this year by about 500 and had issued citations to e-bike riders involved in crashes. He said officers had removed roughly 20 e-bikes from downtown during a recent weekend operation and would continue targeted enforcement.

Commissioners framed the ordinance as aligning with state class 1–3 frameworks and as a starting point that can be revised if needed. After discussion, the measure was moved, seconded and passed on roll call; the motion to adopt the ordinance under immediate effect carried unanimously.

The ordinance text as introduced amends Part 3 of the traffic code (Title 9, Pedestrians, Bicycles and Motorcycles), Chapter 373. The commission did not provide on-the-record changes to helmet or registration rules beyond aligning with state law; several residents urged follow-up work on education and enforcement to avoid citing parents or nonconforming devices inadvertently.

Commissioners and city staff said they will monitor implementation and consider adjustments. The ordinance takes immediate effect per Section 14 of the city charter; no effective date beyond immediate adoption was provided at the meeting.