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Council advances ordinance banning powered e-bikes and electric scooters on the boardwalk and limits sidewalk speeds
Summary
After resident complaints, the mayor and committee members presented an ordinance that would ban powered e-bikes and scooters on the boardwalk (unless electric assist is turned off) and set a 10 mph sidewalk speed limit in some circumstances; committee approved an amendment adding 'other authorized traffic official' to signal compliance language.
The council moved forward with an ordinance to restrict powered e-bikes and electric scooters on the boardwalk and to regulate speeds on sidewalks.
Mayor Dorinda Borer said the measure responds to complaints about fast and sometimes unruly e-bikes on the boardwalk and seeks to give police clearer authority to enforce rules and, in some cases, impound devices. “There are no e-bikes on the boardwalk unless you turn the e part electric part off,” the mayor said, adding that riding while pedaling or walking the device would be allowed. The draft ordinance also sets a 10-mile-per-hour limit on sidewalks when youth are present and prescribes fines (a $100 fine for early violations with police discretion for impoundment on repeat offenses).
Committee members approved a targeted amendment to §80-10 (traffic-signal compliance language) to add 'or other authorized traffic official' after 'police officer' and voted to schedule a public hearing on the ordinance for August 24. The mayor said signage and outreach, including social media and school-based messaging, will accompany the ordinance to educate residents prior to enforcement.
Next steps: the committee scheduled public hearings and asked corporation counsel to incorporate the amendment language prior to publication.
