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Johns Creek council leans toward banning motorized e-bikes in city parks
Summary
After a staff presentation, councilmembers signaled support for prohibiting riding motorized e-bikes and electric scooters inside Johns Creek parks while allowing parking at entrances and installing bike racks; staff will return with ordinance language and enforcement details.
Assistant City Manager Chris Haggard told the council that staff had observed growing use of e-bikes and scooters beyond sidewalks and trails and that the city code does not clearly regulate their use in parks. "The current code does not clearly regulate e bike or scooter use in parks," Haggard said as he laid out options ranging from a full prohibition to allowing operation only in designated areas.
The mayor opened the discussion by urging a restrictive approach: "I think we ought to go to no motorized bikes inside the parks," he said. Several councilmembers agreed that non-motorized bikes should remain permitted on sidewalks and trails but that motorized devices were causing conflicts, field damage and police involvement. Members asked staff to return with ordinance language that would generally prohibit riding motorized e-bikes and scooters inside park interiors while establishing lockable racks or designated parking at park entrances and reasonable signage. Staff said the logistics for racks are feasible but depend on the number of park entrances and layout. Police will be able to enforce the parks-specific ordinance once it is adopted.
