After two previous readings of a proposal to ban electric bikes and high-speed scooters from city sidewalks, Fort Thomas leaders have opted to go back to the drawing board.
An incident in which a community member and her dog were hit by people riding electric vehicles behind her was brought up at Monday’s city council meeting as some of the reasoning behind the ban.
But it’s more complicated than that, city council members said.
“There is no silver bullet to fix this,” said councilmember Adam Blau. The ordinance was originally presented in April, with another reading in May.
But after conversations with cycling enthusiasts and the nonprofit Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance, the city decided to focus on compliance with existing bike laws while reworking the ordinance draft.
Local cycling advocates have offered feedback on the proposed ordinance, prompting city officials to refine several sections. Blau is currently revising the definitions for electric bikes, electric skateboards and other micromobility devices to ensure the ordinance accurately reflects how they are used in the community.
“Kids are still going to be allowed on the sidewalks,” Blau said, emphasizing that the intent is not to restrict young riders but to clarify expectations for safe operation, including adding an education requirement to the ordinance.
Blau also discussed incorporating CORA‑related services into future city budgets, including biannual trail‑condition reports, removal of invasive species, annual meetings with park staff and volunteers, and other maintenance and compliance efforts.
A $14,000 trail maintenance agreement was proposed covering 4.7 miles in Tower Park and 2.5 miles in Highland Park.
Blau noted that the city is seeing more electric mobility devices in use and said the ordinance needs to account for that growth.
“We’re still trying to just iron out details,” Mayor Andy Ellison said. “Trying to make everybody happy.”
Read the original draft of the ordinance, which does not reflect Monday’s discussion, below.
City council will discuss the ordinance again at the committee meeting on June 15, 2026 at 6 p.m.
