After public comments and deliberation, the Silver Grove City Council did not vote on a new e-bike ordinance last week.
At the Sept. 3 Silver Grove City Council meeting, the council decided to schedule a special meeting to focus on and revise the new e-bike ordinance, as the second reading raised new questions and opinions from both the public and the council.
“Our number one priority here, around this table for this city, is for people to live in a safe environment,” said Silver Grove Mayor Neal Bedel.
Even as the new e-bike ordinance was written and reviewed during the first reading in August, questions on punishment protocols and permissible areas of use still received much discussion.
Public comments included how harsh punishment protocols seemed, questions on the restricted areas and how this ordinance would be shared with the public if passed.
“We keep bouncing all over the place and never coming to a decision,” said Silver Grove Councilmember Rachel Cooper.
The ordinance currently restricts Mary Ingles Highway and 4 Mile Road, stating that minors on motorized vehicles, such as e-bikes and e-scooters, must stay on a designated sidewalk and can only use these restricted roads when crossing the street.
The ordinance also currently states that the punishment for first offenses would be confiscation of the motorized vehicle for a week and a $50 fine charged to the parent or guardian of the minor, increasing the fine and time of confiscation as the number of offenses increases. These citations would be made at the discretion of the police officer involved.
“I want there to be like a punishment, like a penalty, on the parents because that’s the only way you’re going to get parents to enforce things and teach their children,” said Cooper.
Silver Grove joins cities like Erlanger and Ludlow in the conversations of e-bike safety and ordinances in the Northern Kentucky region.
Silver Grove City Attorney Steve Dasenbrock noted that the main issue is the comparison: “We used to do this as kids, but we didn’t.” He describes the changes in a vehicle driver’s behavior and attention, specifically with distracted driving, as the danger children now are facing on the road.
“We can’t legislate 100% safety on these kids,” said Dasenbrock. “[Council] are going to have to decide, really as a community, okay, do we want to bubble wrap the kids or do we want to explain to a parent why somebody’s dead?”
The e-bike special meeting will be held on Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. at 308 Oak St. and will be open to the public.
