- Boone County is leading discussions on possible e-bike and e-scooter regulations, with a presentation to the Fiscal Court expected this September.
- Union and Florence officials said they want to coordinate with Boone County to create consistent rules that are easier for law enforcement to enforce.
- Local leaders cited pedestrian safety, rider safety and enforcement challenges as key reasons for considering new regulations, while Florence plans to gather public input through a community survey.
Three local governments in Boone County are kick-starting discussions about regulating the use of electric micro-mobility vehicles, such as electric bikes and scooters, within their jurisdictions.
Last week, the cities of Union and Florence, as well as the Boone County Fiscal Court, discussed ongoing efforts among the county’s various governmental bodies to curb sidewalk vehicle use and establish uniform safety measures for riders.
Currently, Boone County appears to be at the forefront of local discussions and will likely establish a regulatory precedent for the entire county.
E-bikes and e-scooters have emerged as a convenient form of urban and suburban transportation across the country, particularly among teenagers. However, the vehicles’ rising popularity has also led to a yearly increase in rider injuries, sparking calls for stricter local regulations. Many Boone County residents believe that micro-mobility vehicle technology has outpaced traffic laws, creating safety concerns and room for abuse by bolder riders.
During the Boone County Fiscal Court meeting on Tuesday, July 28, Boone County Administrator Matthew Webster acknowledged that the county was engaging in internal talks with the sheriff’s department and its legal team about enforcement mechanisms and overall regulations.
Webster said that Assistant County Attorney Bill Noble has been leading the internal review of the issue, examining state statutes and other community ordinances to determine the best legislative approach. Furthermore, Webster noted that each micro-mobility device presents its own regulatory challenges.
“He’s performed a review of the state statutes, taking a look at county ordinances, done some market research to really just try to help put into context what we’re talking about, what the law says, what the market has out there in this realm, and then has been facilitating meetings with the sheriff’s office, public works and the county administration, all building to an anticipated presentation to the court that we hope will happen at a caucus meeting sometime in September,” Webster said.
Ultimately, Webster said the goal for Boone County is to deliver a comprehensive presentation to the fiscal court in September.
In Union, City Administrator Paul Kremer said regulatory discussions are being led by the county. During a commission meeting on July 27–one day before the aforementioned fiscal court meeting–Kremer said he met twice with Boone County officials to discuss prospective regulations and enforcement boundaries.
Union Mayor Larry Solomon moved toward following Boone County’s lead on regulations, as Union lacks a citywide police department to enforce rules. The Boone County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for policing within Union’s city limits.
Commissioner John Mefford said that safety is his top concern.
“My angle for starting this discussion was one of safety: safety for pedestrians, safety for the ones on bicycles and scooters, safety for drivers,” he said.
Like Union, the Florence City Council said it would also continue to monitor Boone County’s regulatory progress.
During a July 28 meeting, Florence City Administrator Josh Hunt said he, too, had spoken with Webster about micro-mobility device regulations. Hunt told the city council that Florence could either wait for the county’s recommendations or continue gathering public input in the meantime.
Hunt recommended that Florence distribute a free survey to residents to gauge their input on issues such as transportation, workforce commuting and safety. Moreover, Hunt said he wanted to gather input from those who ride micro-mobility devices on a daily basis to gain a broader perspective.
“That’s one of the reasons why I want to do survey,” Hunt said. “Now, you don’t have to pay for anything. It’s just more to get public engagement. That’s entirely up to you all, but it’s to try to get the different viewpoints.”
Florence Police Chief Jeff Mallery said officers from his department have participated in the discussions with Webster and other Boone County officials, providing them with data and first-hand observations from the field.
At the end of the discussion, the city council directed staff to proceed with the public survey while continuing to monitor Boone County’s work. Hunt said the survey would be published and promoted on social media.
