Municipalities across Iowa are looking to address the growing problem of electric scooters and electric bikers being operated unsafely, creating potential mishaps, or worse, for riders, motorists and pedestrians.
During a planning session last Wednesday (07.29) night, the Charles City City Council discussed the possibility of an ordinance to regulate E-scooters and E-bikes in city limits. Councilwoman Phoebe Pittman says safety is her top priority.
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Councilman Patrick Lumley lobbied that any ordinance has to have “some teeth to it” to get the attention of the kids and their parents. He referred to the ordinance being proposed in New Hampton.
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Mark Melrose with Melrose Insurance urged the Council to act quickly to protect pedestrians in downtown Charles City.
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Still, Pittman cautioned that any City ordinance could eventually be overruled by the state; a road they’ve been down before.
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Because it was a planning session, no official action could be taken by the City Council.
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