Carroll officials took some time during Monday’s city council meeting to remind parents, kids, and motorists to be on the lookout for pseudo-bicyclists this summer as the popularity of e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles continues to grow among children. Ward 1 Councilwoman Deb Koster asked Police Chief Brad Burke to share what he and his staff have been seeing around Carroll.
It is difficult for cities to police these issues, as there are legitimate questions about how much authority they have to regulate or ban e-bike or e-scooter use, not to mention the sheer number of hours law enforcement would have to dedicate to handling the complaint volume. However, Burke says some other Iowa cities are already working on a solution.
This isn’t a problem confined to cities or larger towns, and it might actually be an even bigger issue for small rural communities that don’t have their own police force. Glidden City Administrator Brooke Peterson says it is an issue that is growing out of control.
Peterson says she and many other city officials in her position fear that reckless use of e-bikes and e-scooters won’t end until tragedy happens close to home.
Cities can implement ordinances, and law enforcement can try to correct unsafe behavior when they see it, but in the end, officials say it comes down to parents making sure their kids understand the risks and rules of the road. More resources are available below.
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We All Arrive – Polk County Iowa
