POWELL — Powell officials may follow Upper Arlington’s example of pursuing formal legislation to better enforce e-bike rider rules.
City staff and the police department are in the early stages of determining an approach to tackle persistent e-bike issues.
“It’s very serious, and becoming a systemic problem everywhere,” City Manager Andy White said. “I’m sure we’ve all experienced it in our travels in Powell, in Dublin, in Worthington.”
Last month, the Operations Committee heard from Powell Police Sergeant Jon Weirich about the department’s launch of an e-bike educational campaign, which similarly resembles Dublin’s and New Albany’s approach.
It includes pamphlets with safety tips and police handing out Johnson’s Ice Cream coupons to kids practicing safe riding techniques.
Powell Police Chief Ron Sallows said he also plans to do in-person outreach through Safety City, a booth at Powell Fest with officers ready to talk about riding rules, and school resource officers at nearby Olentangy schools hosting presentations for students when school is back in session.
So far, Sallows said he thinks it’s been a success, with officers talking to lots of kids.
Now city staff is ready to look beyond just education by researching formal legislation, which they discussed at the Operations Committee meeting on Tuesday evening.
It comes in response to growing concerns from residents and the police.
“Thankfully, we haven’t had a death yet, but if we had one, unfortunately, it wouldn’t surprise me with the way they ride everywhere and have no respect for stop signs, stoplights whatever. It’s pretty bad,” committee and council member David Lester said.
Sallows said many people purchase e-bikes on Amazon that don’t meet the classifications under the state of Ohio.
“They’re actually e-dirt bikes that are not street legal, they’re not roadway legal,” he said.
MORE INFORMATION:
Upper Arlington working to pass legislation
Upper Arlington’s City Council is advancing legislation that essentially treats e-bikes, e-scooters and similar motorized devices differently than standard bicycles, meaning they’re enforced under different rules.
Prior to moving legislation forward, Upper Arlington city staff sent out a community engagement survey asking residents their opinions and attitudes toward e-bikes.
The survey found that over 90% of residents view e-bikes and similar devices as a moderate-to-significant safety concern.
In response, city staff proposed an ordinance that, if passed, would require:
- Motorized vehicles not licensed by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles — such as e-bikes, motorized scooters and electric skateboards — to be formally registered with the Upper Arlington Police Department to operate within the city or park on any public property.
- Minors to wear a helmet while riding one of those devices.
E-bike riders who have a valid driver’s license would receive free registration via an affidavit, but unlicensed riders— particularly minors— must pass a collaborative public safety course to obtain a registration sticker.
Parents/guardians of minors must also review training materials, accept financial responsibility for fines and acknowledge the helmet rule.
Violations would be categorized as unclassified misdemeanors, subjecting devices to immediate immobilization or physical seizure and a $150 fee, according to a memo from Upper Arlington City Manager Steven Schoeny.
How will Powell use Upper Arlington’s example?
White asked the committee to sign off on Powell staff researching how they might create a similar survey.
“I’ve also talked to our law director; he’s worked on similar initiatives in other communities, so this is not the end-all, be-all,” White said. “I thought it was a good example to get our conversation started.”
“That doesn’t mean if one kid were to lose his life on an e-bike, that’s a problem and would be concerning to me. We’ve had several close calls,” Sallows added.
Sallows said one individual was riding his e-bike on the North Liberty Street sidewalk, where he wiped out while wearing a helmet and a car hit his head, resulting in “a tragic brain injury.”
Another 14-year-old female, riding a non-legal e-bike near the library, failed to see an oncoming car and suffered serious injuries.
“She’s okay to my understanding, but she’s going to be dealing with some of the injuries for a long time,” Sallows said.
