Council referral to study e-bike and scooter rules follows safety concerns, mayor says

Council member Jake Catnaw referred a proposal to study an ordinance regulating electric bikes and scooters, the host reported, and Mayor Matt Zacker described next steps and safety rationales.

"I think everybody can see it between the bikes and the scooters...you're acting more like a motorized vehicle on the road, but you don't have to follow any rules," Zacker said, arguing that operators who use battery power or conversions create safety risks when they travel at higher speeds.

Zacker recounted a recent incident in which an e-bike rider on a sidewalk struck a pedestrian who was exiting a store; he said the person was not fatally injured but the event shows the potential dangers. He emphasized enforcement is essential and that young riders as well as older residents have been involved in risky behavior.

The mayor outlined the anticipated process: the council and public works will consider the referral and, if agreed, ask the city attorney to draft an ordinance based on comparative research and relevant examples. The draft would then return to council committees and the full council for readings, amendments and potential adoption.

No ordinance text or timeline was provided. The mayor encouraged residents to follow the process via wirapids.gov and to sign up for meeting notifications if they wish to participate.