Mount Lebanon pulls proposed e-bike ordinance, opts for education and enforcement

At the July 28 meeting, Commission President Ziegler announced the commission would remove from the agenda and no longer pursue the proposed micromobility ordinance, saying existing laws can address many concerns and that a new local ordinance would have been duplicative and confusing. "We're removing the public hearing from the agenda and are no longer considering the proposed legislation," Ziegler said, and thanked staff and the solicitor for drafting the proposal.

Chief Haberman outlined a collaborative plan focused on education and enforcement: partnering with the school district, public information office and traffic/bicycle officers, publishing micro-mobility fact sheets linked from the municipality's transportation page, and targeted outreach to children and parents. The chief reported six micromobility incidents in the past year, three involving riders under age 16, and emphasized that the borough will apply Chapter 35 and Title 75 (state vehicle code) as it educates and enforces existing rules. "We evaluate data. We evaluate facts. We evaluate statistics anytime that we're viewing any kind of a traffic problem," Haberman said.

Public comment spanned parents, students and long-time residents who pressed for more education, consistent enforcement and faster infrastructure planning (bike lanes, traffic gardens and safe loops). Erika Campagnaro urged steps to protect children after recounting a local crash that resulted in a broken arm; Beth McCabe proposed creating a connected loop for safe family biking (Cedar → Florida → Lebanon). Several speakers said education alone is insufficient without a concrete infrastructure plan. The commission said it will continue work on education efforts and consider resolutions to press the state for clearer device classifications and standards.