New Albany has adopted new legislation for riders of e-bikes and powered scooters that is intended to set safety guidelines and clarify the rules of the road in the northeastern suburb, where those methods of transportation have become popular among school students.
E-bike and powered scooter riders must adhere to a 10-mph speed limit on shared-use paths in the city unless otherwise posted, must follow the same traffic laws as bicycles when on roads and follow other regulations outlined in the legislation New Albany City Council adopted at its Oct. 21 meeting.
“These new measures are intended to balance safety and mobility for everyone who uses New Albany’s roadways, sidewalks, and shared-use paths,” the city’s website states.
Some of the major changes include:
Violators of the new laws may face misdemeanor charges, according to the ordinance. Parents and guardians may be cited if their child under 18 violates the new regulations, the city website shows.
The new rules are effective immediately as the legislation was passed as an emergency measure, according to the ordinance.
In addition to the new laws, the New Albany Police Department is working with New Albany-Plain Local Schools to potentially require students to register e-bikes and powered scooters used on the district’s campus. The registration would also include a safety class, the city website states.
Delaware County and eastern Columbus suburbs reporter Maria DeVito can be reached at mdevito@dispatch.com and @mariadevito13.dispatch.com on Bluesky and @MariaDeVito13 on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New Albany approves e-bike, powered scooter speed limit, helmet requirement in new law
Reporting by Maria DeVito, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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