LOCK HAVEN — With the popularization of electric bicycles, Lock Haven City Council will look at what regulations may need to be put in place to ensure the safety of riders and other members of the community.
The topic was brought up during Monday night’s meeting by Council Member Heather Alexander, who said she’d been approached about E-bike usage within city limits in the last week.
She noted one person said, as a vehicle owner, they had to register their vehicle and follow traffic laws, yet it seemed those using E-bikes did not have to.
“I do think there’s some valid concerns. I’ve seen them a lot… some of them are respectful… but I just wanted to bring it to everyone’s attention that there have been some complaints,” Alexander said.
Mayor Joel Long noted he’d received similar complaints from residents.
Council Member Barbara Masorti added she’s seen those riding E-bikes, and other bicycles, on the sidewalks.
“I see E-bikes on the sidewalks and it’s unbelievably dangerous,” she said.
Long noted that’s an issue with regular bikes and scooters, both on sidewalks and on the road.
“I see people on scooters riding on the road against traffic and that’s really dangerous. They can be on the road, but they’ve got to follow traffic,” he said.
He added the issue with E-bikes involves laws catching up to technology.
City Manager Gregory Wilson told council that staff intends to bring the issue of E-bikes and regulations to their attention at its next meeting.
“We have done some research behind the scenes on bikes and scooters that are electric propulsion,” he said.
Wilson told council the state has a law in place that states an E-bike is the same as a regular bicycle as long as it doesn’t go faster than 35 miles per hour.
However, some E-bikes have the ability to go faster, he said.
He added accidents within the city that involved E-bikes typically saw it going faster than the state’s requirements.
He said city staff plan to discuss the issue further with Police Chief Matthew Rickard and Solicitor Justin Houser.
“Hopefully we can come up with some guidelines at a local level that you can implement,” he said.
Council Member Jeff Brinker suggested the city also look into updating signage on the levee walkway to ensure bicycles and other similar items aren’t used there.
“I’ve seen them there, too. We may need to redo our signage,” he said.
Long said he recently spoke with a person who was using a bicycle on the levee, letting him know it wasn’t allowed.
“He said, ‘oh it says at your own risk,’” on the sign, Long said.
“They’re confusing the signage or trying to take advantage. If you look, it does say somewhere ‘use at your own risk,’” he said.
Wilson noted there are warnings prior to entering the levee that say no bicycles, skateboards and other wheeled items are allowed.
“You have to drive over that place that says ‘no bikes’ in order to get your bike up there,” he said.
Wilson further emphasized the dangers of taking a scooter or bike onto the levee.
“There is a reason you cannot use that on the levee. The riff raff that is on the river side is dangerous and sharp,” he said.
He told council a few years ago an individual was using a Rascal scooter on the levee and got too close to the edge, falling down the riverside of the levee.
“The Rascal tipped over and they are no longer with us,” he said. “This is a true, actual risk. You do not want to fall onto the riff raff. That is the reason you can’t have something like a bicycle or a scooter up there.”
