Council Discusses E-Bikes, Refined Ordinance Being Developed

By Christopher Miller

LOCK HAVEN – City Council continued their discussion of e-bike usage within the city limits during their Monday evening meeting.

“I received an email from someone after our discussion the last time we met,” Mayor Joel Long started. “There are many issues in the city about laws being broken. We don’t mean to come off as they are not important. This is a new thing which is why we are discussing it. How can we combat the new concern?”

Lock Haven Police Chief Matthew Rickard spoke next, saying that the public needs to be educated more on the e-bike laws to raise awareness that they too are in effect.

“The course of action we need to take is awareness and public service announcements,” he said. “We need to raise awareness of the rules and regulations that operators of these machines must follow when on the road.”

City Manager Greg Wilson mentioned that a more refined ordinance will be introduced at the next meeting of City Council on Monday, October 20.

“If you ride a scooter for mobility, such as a Jazzy or Hoveround, that is replacing the way you get around as a pedestrian. That is the only legal thing you can operate on a sidewalk, not on the street,” Wilson added.

Council also made a point to mention that no bikes are ever allowed to be on the levee at any time.

“The “use at your own risk” signs apply to the legal use of the levee, and bikes are never allowed to be up there,” he said.

The guidelines included in the City Council packet can be found below.

E-Bikes “Pedalcycle with electric assist” – PA Title 75 subsection 102

• Must weigh no more than 100 pounds. 2 or 3 wheels that are more than 11 inches in diameter. Manufactured/assembled with an electric motor of no more than 750 watts. Has operable pedals and capable of a speed no more than 20 miles per hours powered by motor alone.
• Rules of the road apply to E-Bikes as pedal cycles – PA Title 75 subsection 3501
• PA Title 75 subsection 3505 (Roadways)
  • May be operated on shoulder
  • Must travel in same direction as required by vehicles
  • Must traffic the correct direction on one-way roads
  • No more than 2 riders wide unless on designated pedal cycle paths
• PA Title 75 subsection 3506 (Equipment/At Night)
  • Between sunset and sunrise must have white light lamp on front and be visible from 500 feet.
  • Red reflector face to the rear visible from 500 feet.
  • Amber reflector on each side.
• PA Title 75 subsection 3508 (Sidewalks and Pedalcycle Paths)
  • Yield right of way to pedestrians on sidewalks
  • Not to be ridden on a sidewalk in business district
• PA Title 75 subsection 3514
  • Must be 16 to ride an E-Bike (pedal cycle with electric assist)

Electric Skateboards and Scooters

• Pennsylvania identifies electric skateboards and scoots as “motor vehicle” or “motor-driven cycle.”
• PA Title 75 subsection 102 defines:
  • Motor vehicle – “A vehicle which is self-propelled except an electric personal assistive mobility device or a vehicle which is propelled solely by human power.”
  • Motordriven-cycle – “A motorcycle, including a motor scooter, with a motor which produces not to exceed five brake horsepower.”
• PA Title 75 (Vehicle Code) requires:
  • Riders to be licensed
  • Vehicle to be inspected
  • Vehicle to be registered
  • Vehicle to be insured
  • Helmet to be worn unless you are over 21 years of age.
• Effectively unlawful to ride in public, please enjoy them on private property!

City Ordinance Summarized:

• Subsection 380-89. Riding and parking of pedalcycles on sidewalks along certain streets prohibited:

Business Districts

Street Between

Bellefonte Avenue	City line and West Church Street
East and West Church Street	First Street and Jay Street
East and West Main Street	Bellefonte Avenue and Jay Street
East and West Water Street	First Street and Jay Street

 

Residential Areas; Housing for the Elderly

Barton Street	Center Street and West Fourth Street
Bellefonte Avenue	North Fairview Street and West Fourth Street
Bellefonte Avenue	South Jones Street and West Bald Eagle Street
Center Street	Barton Street and Hampton Street
East Park Street	Myrtle Street and Jessamine Street
Jessamine Street	East Park Street and Walnut Street
Lock Haven University	All sidewalks adjoining LHU property and all sidewalks within LHU property

 

Electric Skateboards and Scooters

• Subsection 380-91. Skates, skateboards, coasters, sleds and other toy vehicles.
  • No sledding on any sidewalk or road unless blocked off for that purpose under subsection 380-5 or subsection 380-21
  • No riding those types of vehicles in the areas listed above.
    • Those vehicles include “one-wheel,” unicycles, “hoverboards,” electric skateboards etc…