Select Board to investigate e-bike safety rules and dark‑sky bylaw after residents report risky behavior

A cluster of public-safety and planning proposals was raised during goal-setting at the June 29 Select Board workshop, with members urging action on e-bike safety and exploring a dark‑sky bylaw to limit light pollution.

Several board members described recent near-miss incidents involving children on motorized scooters, one-wheel devices and e-bikes—often riding without helmets and at times on sidewalks or against traffic. The police chief (referenced in the discussion) has reviewed the concern with board members; staff recommended researching the state-level e-bike regulations (not yet final) and considering local options in the interim. Possible local measures discussed included age and speed limits, helmet requirements, restrictions on sidewalk riding, targeted permitting for specific municipal properties, and an education-first approach that precedes enforcement.

Board members suggested a two-member subcommittee working with public safety staff and community representatives to draft options. Town counsel would be asked to review enforceability and cross‑jurisdictional issues (for people traversing state routes like Route 1A).

Separately, a board member raised a dark‑sky initiative to reduce overnight light pollution, noting commercial lighting and school parking-lot fixtures that operate all night as candidates for review. The group discussed building on existing dark‑sky guidelines and possibly drafting a citizen petition or a board‑sponsored bylaw for town‑meeting consideration. Members emphasized the need for exemptions for security lighting and for staged retrofit approaches where feasible.

No votes were taken; the board asked staff to bring back research, sample bylaws from peer communities, and recommendations for next steps.