Electric scooters continue to present a problem for Fort Mitchell pedestrians. Earlier this year, city council passed an ordinance regulating their use on city sidewalks and roads. The city’s communications department has also promoted a plan to educate local students and parents on electric scooter safety.
However, it seems riders continue to disregard the rules of the road and put themselves and others at risk. Most recently, a local minor driving an e-scooter was involved in an accident on Beechwood Road that prompted a police response. The Fort Mitchell Police Department cannot give any more information on the incident at this time per open records laws.
Councilmember Kim Nachazel brought up the incident at the June 24 city council meeting.
“There have been some scary instances,” Nachazel said. “People aren’t wearing helmets. They aren’t stopping at stop signs or obeying traffic laws.”
As a co-chair of Fort Mitchell’s Safety Committee, Nachazel is interested in road, pedestrian, and child safety. LINK nky asked what she thinks is the root of the problem.
“Given the [young] age of most riders, they don’t understand how to share the sidewalk and follow traffic rules,” Nachazel said.
Chief Nader told LINK nky that, to some extent, parents should be involved in teaching road safety.
“When our kids are little, as parents we make sure to teach them to look both ways before crossing a street,” Nader said. “The lesson should also be stressed when riding an e-scooter.”
According to Nachazel, parents teaching their children good safety measures should be part of a “group effort” in the city to promote safety. Using the proper riding equipment is vital to safety.
“The city has done everything we can to regulate this,” Nachazel said. “My best recommendation is for folks to wear helmets. At the end of the day, we can’t force anyone. But we encourage it in the event of an accident.”
Nachazel also wanted to stress that she is not against electronic scooters. Just that the riders need to use common sense.
“It’s great to see kids riding, playing, getting places outside,” Nachazel said. “We all have to work together and play nice on our sidewalks.”