Rules will likely be in place for age, parking and no riding after dusk
By Barb Pert Templeton
Members of the Marine City Commission held a discussion at a recent meeting to consider the draft of an e-bike ordinance created by City Attorney Robert Davis.
At a July 16 meeting Davis began by stating that he had been working on the ordinance and while it was quite detailed, the commission needed to share just exactly what they were thinking on the topic.
Davis added that each of the three styles of e-bikes manufactured in Michigan were defined in the draft ordinance. Category 3 e-bikes can go 28 mph and are totally motorized; in category one the motor doesn’t kick in unless you’re peddling and category 2 is in between.
“What I can do this evening is hear from you, bear in mind nothing is off the table with what you want to do with e-bikes in your city,” Davis said.
He said he’s drafted some rules of the road along with some rules about speed, equipment and things consistent with state law. There’s also a registration provision and also some penalties for parents and guardians because it’s hard to hold minors responsible, Davis said.
“I really need to know what you want,” Davis said. “I personally think e-bikes should not be on sidewalks.”
For example, maybe the commission doesn’t want the bikes traveling under the motor vehicle code on Water Street and if so, officials have to let him know that so he can prepare a first reading of the ordinance for an August meeting.
As to definitions, Davis said he took most of those right out of the state statute and he’d leave them as is and also wouldn’t mess with the helmet and age requirements or the anti-tampering provision.
Commissioners share thoughts on the issue
Electric bikes aka e-bike use in Marine City will soon be regulated by an ordinance.
Commissioner Sean O’Brien thanked Davis for creating the e-bike draft and said he wasn’t sure the city should get into registering the bikes and whether charging fees was necessary. He said his concerns also fell to electric scooters.
Davis said scooters and Segways will be in a different ordinance, right now they just need to do e-bikes. Mopeds are addressed in a different state law as well.
Commissioner Trish May asked if the ordinance can have a time limit of how late someone can be out at night on an e-bike?
“That would be a major concern for me, like whatever we define as dusk they have to be off it,” May said.
Davis replied yes, that is covered in the draft ordinance and they also have a braking system rule.
“I think where we’re at is location – do you have, in the city, some restricted areas where you just don’t want any e-bikes at all?” Davis asked.
Members of the Marine City Commission discussed the draft of an ordinance for the use of electric bikes/e-bikes in the city at a recent meeting.
Police Chief James Heaslip responded from the audience and said he would think the downtown business district on Water Street and the social district, plus up to and including the beach area and pavilion.
Commissioner William Klaassen said he may be old but when he was a kid, he had a non-motorized bike and he had to follow the rules of the road. If there was a stop sign you observed it.
“If they’re going to be on the road, tell me where you’re at and if you’re going to make a turn,” Klaassen said.
“You’re bound by the rules of the road,” O’Brien offered. “Part of that has to be an education piece to the public and parents have to tell their kids you have to follow the rules of the road.”
Other provisions in place included that riders have to have to have at least one hand on the steering wheel, must yield the right of way, limit the number of riders, and there’s no modifying an e-bike to increase speed. In fact, speed, age for operators and helmet requirements were covered too, Davis said.
“What I like to say is this is designed to protect the e-bike riders as well,” Davis said.
O’Brien said he objected to the no e-bikes on Water Street because kids like to go to the arcade and ice cream shop in those areas. He noted they also need to address parking for the bikes.
“If they can’t drive to those locations on their e-bikes, will they just stop going?” O’Brien asked.
Heaslip asked if they could revisit the topic because he doesn’t want to prohibit them going to the arcade of the ice cream shop downtown either.
As to parking, Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick said they could put more bike racks in the parks so they can park their e-bikes and then go into town to the stores.
The commission then directed Davis to include provisions in the ordinance for no riding on the sidewalks, where to park the bikes and a time limit for their use such as 30 minutes after dusk and then off the road until sunrise.
“We may want to can registration as an unnecessary burden too,” Davis said, as many commissioners agreed.
Davis said there are four communities in the whole state of Michigan right now that even have an e-bike ordinance but it’s in certainly in demand these days. He’s had no less than 25 calls from communities requesting a copy of the drafted ordinance because the e-bikes are so prevalent now.
Davis will bring a proposed e-bike ordinance back to the commission table in early August to offer a first reading of the one they will adopt and put on the books in Marine City.
