Good evening. I would like to call the
July 13, 2026 Hillyard City Council
Committee of the Whole meeting to order.
Would the clerk please call the role?
>> Mr. Betts
» Mr. Betts
>> here.
» here.
>> Vice President Katon
» Vice President Katon
>> here.
» here.
>> Miss Parker Jones
» Miss Parker Jones
>> here.
» here.
>> Miss Razul
» Miss Razul
>> here.
» here.
>> Mr. Teter is excused. Miss Vermillion
» Mr. Teter is excused. Miss Vermillion
>> here.
» here.
>> And President Cole
» And President Cole
>> here. Council has copies of the June
» here. Council has copies of the June
22nd, 2026 committee of the whole
meeting minutes. Are there any changes
or corrections?
Hearing none, these minutes are approved
as submitted. There's one item of
business on tonight's agenda, which is
an update and discussion on ebikes and e
scooters. Um, with that, I'll turn it
over to city manager Roush.
>> Thank you, President Cole. We're going
» Thank you, President Cole. We're going
to get this presentation queued up here.
I'm trying something a little bit
different. I can drive if uh it's Nope,
you're good. We're um I've used
PowerPoint in the past, but this is a a
different kind of a tool called Prey,
which uh is a little bit more animated
in some respects, but um I'll walk you
through actually. Could you hit your
escape key, please?
Thank you.
Let's go back here real quick.
There we go. You got to get to the part
that actually shows the title. So, um, I
wanted to provide council and the public
with just an update on sort of where we
are in this conversation with respect to
ebikes, ecooters, and let's say
microobility devices. It's a pretty
broad um, umbrella. So, of course, you
know, just to help illustrate the point,
we have here a picture of said example
of said device uh, which is an e
scooter. But I think the first and most
important place to start in this
conversation is to really define our
terms. So there's a term all over our
code, micromobility, and you'll see this
term other places as well. And that
immediately in my mind at least conjures
questions like micro micro what? Because
a micromobility device can uh
encompasses a wide range of things with
wheels. Some of them have pedals, some
of them don't. Some of them require
human power, some of them don't. and our
um our staff and our attorneys uh in in
consultation collaboration with other
municipalities as well have helped to
pull together a matrix of some examples
of what these kinds of vehicles look
like. And so to start out here, of
course, we have the very familiar
bicycle
as well as a class one and two ebike,
which those are the bikes that generally
go less than 20 m an hour with a motor
assist. A class 3 ebike uh generally
will go up to I believe it's 28 m an
hour. And then you have all sorts of
other devices on wheels. Those could be
skateboards, rollerblades, scooters,
electric skateboards, electric versions
of all of these things, golf carts, high
and low speed, motorized bicycles and
mopeds, miniature motorcycles. Uh we
have here shared and rented microobility
devices. If you've ever been, I think
Cincinnati has some, the the Lime
bicycles or I know out in DC they're
popular as well. Personal assisted
mobility devices, just the devices that
folks are using to get around every day.
And then I've got down here at the
bottom things like Emotos, uh, which are
available on Amazon, which are are kind
of a, um, a not well-defined, uh, mashup
of some of these things, too. You can go
out and and buy them from Costco or
Amazon, for example. Or another thing
that's not listed here would be things
like a hoverboard that have maybe one
wheel or like a segue. You can rock them
back and forth and go from there. I
think the the main idea here though is
that that's a lot of different kinds of
vehicles and a lot of different
permutations of wheels and motors and
etc. that are all being used on our
infrastructure. And so we have the I
think the great advantage of living in a
community that's been very diligent
about building infrastructure for
different kinds of uses. So everything
from you know um nature trails. I have a
couple from Hillyard proper but we have
some nature trails, gravel trails,
shared use paths. Uh this of course is a
good example of some some kids riding in
town. Some of these connect to parks
like Hillyard Station Park. um other
other folks are using bike lanes and
shoulders of roads to commute to and
from work. So you got a lot of different
kinds of vehicles moving through and in
our community on a lot of different
kinds of infrastructure. And then we
think about who's actually riding them
and that's a lot of different kinds of
people and a lot of different kinds of
sets of circumstances. So, um, I was out
actually Saturday. I went from my house
down and just kind of went exploring a
little bit and went all the way south
and hopped into Columbus on Robert's
Road. And so, you've got ballards and
really protected lanes out there. But
while I was out, I saw kids on scooters.
I saw family cycling. Um, I saw folks
running errands on on these kinds of
devices, too. So, there's a lot of
different contexts whether it's for
exercise or recreation or trying to get
to a place um or kids just out and about
in the community that people are using
these vehicles,
which is sort of a long-winded way of
saying this is a lot of stuff being used
throughout the community in a lot of
different ways. And so when we tend to
hear feedback about this issue, we tend
to hear that feedback from a wide
variety of angles
um about, you know, how people are using
it and and then generally what the some
questions about what the current rules
and regulations about these vehicles
are. So I want to give staff a lot of
credit. Andrea and her team, Lety, Dan,
Chief, um, everybody's been kind of
knocking their heads together trying to
kind of sort of synthesize on some level
what the current rules and regulations
say when it comes to these vehicles and
how they should be used in the
community. And Community Relations built
a little web page, and if folks haven't
seen it yet, it's right under the um the
big menu under residents, there's ebike
safety down here. Uh but in a nutshell,
the goal of creating this web page was
to just sort of outline a snapshot about
currently speaking in our current codes
and ordinances and how those intersect
with state law today,
what kind of are the rules about how
these can be operated and where. So I
won't go through and read you this
entire web page, but I'll kind of hit
some of the highlights here very
quickly, which is that um there are
multiple sections of our code that
address where and how these vehicles can
be used. One of the most um one one of
the bigger sections I should say is
chapter 373 which involves the traffic
code and there's a whole section about
ebikes, mopeds, scooters and these kinds
of of vehicles. There are other sections
of our code that talk about specifically
with parks and how these things can be
used in parks. But for the time being, I
think it's instructive to just kind of
look at the traffic code pieces of this
and to think about how the traffic code
currently defines them. So, we just
talked about what a broad spectrum of
vehicles this can include. Um, our
definitions tend to focus on ebikes and
then other microobility devices, if you
will. So, we we follow the same
classification structure as the state.
So, everything from a class one to a
class 3 ebike. um other a a any other
vehicle um is a it is a low-speed
micromobility device if it weighs less
than 100 lb, if it has handlebars, and
if it's propelled uh by a motor or human
power. But you'll notice like even in
that definition, the requirement that it
has handlebars sort of excludes some of
the vehicles that we've talked about or
that we've seen out in the community.
So, I think there are opportunities
coming our way to look at this
definition and how we're defining things
that are maybe a little bit more
encompassing than what's currently in
the code.
As far as where folks can ride, the the
main idea here is that class one and two
ebikes, which if you will are the slower
versions, um can go on streets and they
can also go on shared use paths. If you
go if you have a fast ebike, a class 3
that can go up to 28 miles an hour, you
can keep th you can ride those on
streets and shared use paths, but that's
where some of our extra requirements
start to kick in. You're supposed to be
16. You're supposed to wear a helmet um
because the bike can do more.
You um are currently allowed to ride on
sidewalks if your motor is not engaged.
And um and as far as that you excuse me
as far as the other regulations here go
um the generally speaking ebikes,
scooters, motorized vehicles are
prohibited in parks including Hillary
Hillyard Station Park and first
responders park um unless you are in a
bike lane. So if you're in HSP, you're
supposed to basically stay in that bike
lane as you're progressing through.
Again, the only age and helmet
requirement that we have right now to
speak of is being 16 to operate a class
3 ebike and that you have to wear a
helmet. But I will say that throughout
this code, if you go through and look at
it, there are all sorts of reminders
candidly throughout the code that riders
have responsibilities as well. So,
you're allowed to take these vehicles
out onto certain kinds of
infrastructure, but you're supposed to
be yielding to pedestrians. You're not
supposed to be riding dangerously. So,
at night, um, you know, or like trying
to get too close to people, u, you're
supposed to yield to pedestrians, those
sorts of things. If you're riding
recklessly or unsafeely, the code
already provides that we can stop you,
intervene, have a conversation, and talk
about how you may be violating the
current code.
Um,
so one of the things that we have done
to try to remind folks about what the
current rules are is to replace some of
the signs out at at Hillyard Station
Park. And here's a good example of a of
a snapshot of one of those signs that
was replaced.
Um, we have taken some other steps that
I'll get to here in just a couple of
minutes. But the main idea is we're
trying to create an awareness,
especially at Hillyard Station Park and
at first responders, that splash pads,
for example, are not the intended
infrastructure for scooters. Um, trying
to create those spaces where pedestrians
can congregate and feel safe in those
areas without having people buzz
through, buzz by, or otherwise create
disturbances.
So, I'm going to come back to this web
page here in just a second, but this uh
we have some feedback here that we'll
get to, but I think the main idea is
that reflecting on sort of what that
current code says today, I think it
captures pieces of what vehicles are out
there and where they can ride, but it's
not necessarily as encompassing as maybe
um it could be, especially given where
the market's going and how many of these
vehicles come and go for sale on the
internet and everything else.
Give me one second here. All right. When
we think about who's using these and
where and in what context, anecdotally,
um I will I would submit that a lot of
the feedback that we get about improper
usage tends to be on in the younger
crowd. in the crowd that's out kind of
out of the house, you know, especially
now that it's summertime. Um, they're
out visiting the parks. They're doing
other things. They're using this, yes,
to get from point A to point B. But a
lot of the behaviors that I that we have
heard about or I should say I've heard
about have tended to involve, you know,
somebody younger than 18 who's just
getting too close to infants and
toddlers on splash pads. Um, or who is
who's maybe not paying as much attention
as they should on a sidewalk and getting
too close to somebody who's coming out
of a business. those sorts of things. I
don't know that the issue has been with
commuters as much or with uh folks out
uh you know wearing the Lycra trying to
bust out miles on a on a weekend ride.
Um certainly you know um interactions
happen between all of these groups and
pedestrians and other users of trails
and the roadway. Um, but anecdotally,
most of the feedback I think that we've
gotten in the last since I've been here
the last couple of months has been about
the kids.
So, what do we do about that? First
thing is we replaced all the signs in
Hillary Station Park. As I said, um, the
police department has two SRO's who have
been on bike patrols all summer long,
and we've had a concerted effort of
trying to engage with the kids out on
these devices as we've seen them. Uh, I
want to give Rita's a shout out because
they gave us several hundred coupons. It
was 500 plus um that we meaning the
police department and some staff in R&P
have proactively passed out to kids on
these devices who've demonstrated good
responsible behavior. We've passed out
all the coupons that we were given. So,
we've done quite a lot of engagement on
the on the carrot end of things just to
try to visit, remind, educate um what
good writership looks like and how to
operate on this infrastructure in a way
that's responsible and doesn't make
people feel uneasy.
At the same time, one of the ordinances
that will come before you this evening
for a first reading uh involves some
very straightforward changes that we
could make to the code to chapter 373
that I think are a first cut at um at
trying to get ahead of this issue in a
way that will let us be more proactive
in the future. Uh so, for example, one
of the one of the uh provisions of this
ordinance would require helmets for any
rider who's under 18 regardless of any
vehicle that they're on. So if an
officer or somebody in at R&P who's out
working downtown sees a kid without a
helmet, that creates a backing in the
code for them to have a conversation to
say, "Hey, it is a code requirement that
you need to be wearing something if
you're clear if they're a minor." The
second thing the ordinance would do is
clarify that parents are responsible um
at the end of the day for the actions of
their minor children. So, the ordinance
would prohibit a parent from recklessly
um in enabling their child to go out um
and operate one of these vehicles in a
way that endangers somebody. And the
third thing is it would create the
ability for the police department to
impound these vehicles if they're being
operated in a reckless manner. And what
that would look like potentially is
let's say a child maybe is warned or
something and they continue to misbehave
on the device. The police department
could take it and hold that until a
parent or guardian came to come pick it
up. All of these changes I think are
geared really at a at a broader issue
which is starting a conversation in the
community not just about what our code
says but what about our expectations are
as a community of each other. So to the
extent that yes, there's an enforcement
element here, there's an there's a piece
of this that might require um police
officers or R&P staff to have
conversations. That's important. And
it's important that we have the backing
in the code to do that. But I also think
it's important to equip our parents and
to equip the schools and even the kids
that are out operating these vehicles
with something that just demonstrates
what our understanding about responsible
wrership looks like in this community.
Um, and that we're going to we we
believe that these things are important
and have codified them in the code as a
way of saying here's here's a base
expectation
candidly in a way that we do kind of for
drivers as well. You know, we we
establish speed limits. We all agree
we're going to adhere to those. Um, does
everybody all the time? Absolutely not.
But the point is we've agreed that in
general these are the principles by
which we're going to drive our cars.
So what's coming next I think is the the
ordinance that before you is that is
before you this evening later on is sort
of the first blush at things that I
think we could do relatively quickly. We
could get to a second reading then in uh
late August get that on the books and
then start to do messaging and education
from there. I do think there's a bigger
conversation here when we zoom
[clears throat] out and think about sort
of the problem in general, if you will,
which is that there's a piece of this
that involves how are we defining these
vehicles in the first place. Um, is it
and and I think some of this really
depends on trying to get a sense from
the community about what feels
intuitive.
Uh, because I don't know, I'm speaking
only for myself. I don't know that
there's much of a difference between a
set of rollerblades and a skateboard,
you know, or or a scooter necessarily.
Um, maybe an e scooter that can go a
little bit faster is is something else.
But where I'm going with that is
depending on how folks intuitit this and
think about it. Um, we should try to
modulate the code so that it meets
people uh where they where they are in
terms of how we're thinking about this.
In other words, does it make sense to
make distinctions for every one of those
categories in the code if folks by and
large think of all these things as one
big bucket of vehicles regardless of the
flavor if you will. So how we define
micro micromobility devices is one
thing. The second thing is to think
about where these devices are being
operated and to get some feedback, I
think, from the public about what the
expectation is or ought to be. Um, in
other words, if it makes more sense to
to permit some kinds of vehicles to go
in some places but not others, for
example. Um, I don't know that, you
know, permitting, just as a parent, I
wouldn't want my kid taking an e-cooter
on a an unpaved, very narrow nature
trail. You know, it makes more sense to
keep it on maybe a sidewalk or a shared
use path. Um, but there are maybe
certain kinds of infrastructure that
it's more important to prioritize
pedestrians, for example, or something
like that. So thinking about that and
also trying to balance that against I
think the reality that we have a very
strong network of different kinds of
infrastructure that people are using to
commute to shop to go do recreational
things. And so we want to weigh these
things effectively where we're enabling
people to go do that to save car trips
um you know to be healthy when they're
out and about and and doing their
business but also accommodating
different kinds of vehicles that may go
across that infrastructure. The third
thing is what speed, operation limits,
or what reckless behavior, if you will,
might look like. And to try to gain a
sense of that in order to help to help
bake that into the code as well, so that
we're giving, I think, everybody in the
community if a sense of what what
recklessness is, what too fast is on a
sidewalk versus a shared use path or a
road. Um, and really to gather that
feedback from as many different kinds of
groups as we can. So, we, you know, we
have a list of HOAs, for example, that
we can do some outreach to. Um, I had
the good fortune of meeting, I think
it's, um, it might be Bill with the
cycle shop that's moving into downtown
Hillyard. Um, and had a great
conversation with him when I first
started a couple months ago about this.
So trying to get feedback from those
stakeholders is important as well as our
boards and commissions. So at last
month's ESC meeting had a great
conversation with the team there about
this very issue and balancing the
sustainability elements of this with the
safety and and other concerns that
people have. Um ARPAC or any of the
other groups that we have trying to ga
gauge those that feedback and those
perceptions I think helps round out the
conversation.
online feedback is important and I'll
come back to this page briefly. Um
Andrea graciously built in we'll call it
an informal survey. So there are some
comment boxes and these are live right
now so folks can go out and share some
thoughts about these exact questions. Uh
what how should we be defining micro
mobility devices? Are there any kinds of
vehicles we should be excluding? Are
there places these vehicles should never
go? uh what speed limits or behavior are
appropriate based on the kinds of
infrastructure. And we can ask these
sorts of questions um of course to folks
that fill out this form online, but also
to all these other groups and
potentially even do some sort of an
in-house uh we could do an event at the
well or a world cafe or something like
that where we have an evening where
people can come out, give their thoughts
and opinions and gather all this
feedback together.
I think the idea then would be to take
some of that and to really analyze it
and step back and look at it and see
what key themes come out of that. Um,
and to then take that feedback and to
start to tee up other suggested code
changes that the community might want to
see.
Uh, so that could mean more detailed
code updates. maybe an update that
actually goes ahead and redefineses
microobility across all of our code
sections and seeks to unify the traffic
pieces with the parks pieces and
everything else. The other thing I think
we we are intending to look at through
this conversational lens is how we
operate our own special events. So, I
was at uh celebration last week. It was
very crowded because we had a Taylor
Swift cover band. They did an excellent
job. Um, but there were kids there on
scooters and a couple of times I didn't
see anybody do anything that in my own
view I thought was too reckless, but
they were kind of zipping in between
pedestrians every now and then. And I
think that creates questions like should
we develop rules that say something like
when the city is sponsoring an event at
Hillyard Station Park, you have to walk
a device through the park just during
that event window. Or maybe we require
things like a corral. So you have to
park the device at a designated area.
It's like checking your luggage. You get
a tag, you can come pick it up later.
Those kinds of things are things we
could think about.
We also take that feedback then and and
design or develop some educational
outreach materials that we can use to
round out how we're talking about it
online, but also to engage the schools
and our other partners in the community,
other businesses um just to help get the
messaging out about uh what the what the
evolution of rules might look like uh in
terms of where these things can go and
how they should be operated.
At the end of the day, I think the goal
is to get to a place where we've had
this conversation across all these
different dimensions. And we've looked
at that feedback and come up with
something that's more well defined in
terms of what the community expectation
is about what these things are and how
they should be used. We can bake those
changes into our ordinances, into our
codes. Um, and that allows us then to
clarify the messaging and the education
pieces about what is legal, what is not,
what the enforcement expectations are,
what we can reasonably accomplish in
terms of enforcement.
And then I can also take that, we as
staff can take that and carry that
forward uh, in terms of our
conversations with other regions and
with the state. Later this week on
Thursday, the Dayton region is meeting.
a lot of the cities and city managers
over there are gathering together to
come up with um they're having a
basically a series of short meetings to
develop a model ordinance if you will
for how ebikes, emotos and vehicles like
this can be regulated. Um I'm not sure
I'll be interested to see where that
goes because everybody's codes are so
different. I don't know that one
ordinance is going to capture all of
this in every community. But I think a
set of principles about how we talk
about it, how we define it, how we
communicate it is something that's
really relevant. So I intend to take the
outcome of this conversation and stay
plugged into that one. And then we can
carry the common themes of all of that
forward over to the state house. So,
there is a bill that was introduced um
this session, HB948,
which as currently drafted would require
basically almost a driver's ed or some
education that would have to be
performed in order to ride some of these
vehicles. And it would also task ODOT
with creating a task force to look at
additional statewide regulations that
might make sense. But I think there are
other things that we could potentially
advocate for or with other regions
suggest to the legislature that might be
helpful. So a statewide education
requirement I think certainly has uh
some legs. It would be difficult if we
had one set of education standards and
Upper Arlington had another and Dublin
had a third set and Gehana didn't
require any at all. And then as a parent
I would be really confused as to what
I'm supposed to do. Um, the other thing
the state could help with, candidly, is
sales and what vehicles are even allowed
to be sold in the state of Ohio. Uh,
because some are being sold right now
that are not defined at all in our in
our code or in the state code. Uh and
then the third piece of course would be
a licensing registration piece
potentially where um if especially if if
ODOT is looking at how to register these
vehicles or require some type of license
especially if they can go really fast u
that would provide a level of
consistency statewide that would be I
think more efficient more effective than
we could be on our own as well.
So to boil all that down, I think that
when we look at the forest of vehicles
that's out there and how we try to get
ahead of this issue, uh what's before
you this evening is sort of the first
bite at that apple and trying at least
to get a a bit more clarity about safety
standards, the parental role in some of
this, and then our ability to impound
these vehicles um if they're really
being misused. And then I think what's
coming over the coming weeks and months
is really a conversation with our
community that crosses all those other
dimensions and that we will take that
feedback in, distill it down and then
bring you a set of recommended changes
to our codes um and keep that
conversation going as far as what that
looks like both here across you know the
western and central regions of Ohio and
then out at the state legislature as
well.
So, I know I've just talked non-stop for
like 25 minutes. [laughter]
Um, but I am certainly happy to answer
any questions that you have. I think the
feedback question for you all from staff
this evening would be, um, does that
plan make sense in your view? Would you
prefer a different kind of an approach?
Um, or are there elements of this that
you want us to pay particular attention
to as the process unfolds?
Um, I I like the plan. Um, you know, the
the community feedback, just getting
folks together to try to um distill
everything before we actually apply some
additional rules. I I do like that a
lot. Um, I do have a couple questions
though. Um, in the in the in the slide
set here, it said it seems to indicate
that
it says class one and two may be
operated on streets
except for the freeway and shared use
paths. I'm I'm assuming that also that
includes the the scooters, class one and
two. Um, are are they allowed on the
sidewalks? Um, you know, and it's it's
something about ebike ebikes may be
operated on sidewalks
when
uh using pedal power only, right? And
that makes sense because that that's
part of the problem. you've got folks,
you know, zipping down um the main
street sidewalks where, you know, I
happen to know someone who's a barber in
the barber shop there. And he said
there's so many times people almost get
hit as they're opening the door and kid
whether it's one of those motorcycle
looking ones or even just a scooter
that's zipping along at 20 or more miles
per hour, almost hits an elderly
gentleman, you know, who just got his
haircut,
>> right? Um,
» right? Um,
so the the ebikes are supposed to be
pedled if they're on the sidewalk, as I
understand it. What about the scooters?
I mean, because I I'll tell you what, I
I I happen to live on Heather Ridge
Drive where there's one of those u the
speed monitoring devices that tells you
what your speed is. And I just c saw a
kid that just is zipping down the middle
of the road, you know, actually behind a
vehicle. And it uh it u it said that he
was going 25 miles an hour. Um so what
what do they do? I I don't know if you
can just push those along like a regular
scooter or
>> Yeah, I think some of them you don't
» Yeah, I think some of them you don't
have to power them at all with your
feet. You can either twist the handle or
there's a button that'll just make I
mean it'll it'll shut off.
>> Um but
» Um but
>> if they're on the sidewalk, is that too
» if they're on the sidewalk, is that too
fast for a sidewalk? because you've got
little kids, you know, I happen to have
grandkids who ride their bikes on the
sidewalk, five years old, and and there
have been many, many occasions where
these kids have just zipped right around
them and
>> uh kind of scared of them.
» uh kind of scared of them.
>> Yeah, I think that's I think your
» Yeah, I think that's I think your
point's well taken. And those things are
heavy, too. Um and so you we've got a
situation where people can take vehicles
that have some weight to them and and
especially on a sidewalk, which is
narrower. Um there's less room less room
to maneuver, right? Um, one of the
things I think though too as well to
build on that point is that, you know,
even if I'm riding a pedal powered bike
that has no motor on it, if I'm if I'm
careening down a sidewalk at 20 25 miles
an hour, I can do a lot of damage, too.
you know, it's in in terms of the some
of this I think boils down also to how
fast to your point and where um because
if folks are writing them in a way that
is reckless um or too quick based on the
design of either the sidewalk or the
path, that's really where these
opportunities to have really bad
accidents kind of come into play. I
would say the difference though between
the the pedal powered regular just
regular bike and these bikes is that
>> it requires some effort
» it requires some effort
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> to go 20 miles an hour on a bike.
» to go 20 miles an hour on a bike.
>> That's fair.
» That's fair.
>> But these, you know, I my wife and I
» But these, you know, I my wife and I
were were actually riding down the
sidewalk, you know, just pedaling along,
probably doing about six or eight miles
an hour. And this a young young kid
about 12 years old said asked if he
could pass. He was on a one of these
scooters. He passed us and I'm telling
you within 10 seconds he was 100 yards
ahead of us
>> just I mean he was he was polite and
» just I mean he was he was polite and
everything like that but they they can
go really fast and it requires really no
effort
>> to do that
» to do that
>> right
» right
>> no that's a fair point and I think that
» no that's a fair point and I think that
that is something that we I would look
at least to get some feedback on part of
the enforcement challenge becomes as the
as the motors get smaller
>> and they get you know kind of woven into
» and they get you know kind of woven into
the chassis of the device, it becomes
more and more and more difficult for
somebody, for an officer, whoever else
to even know whether it's whether it's
motorized at a glance. Um, and so that's
where I think it's the multi-dimension
part of this comes into play. There's a
piece of this that probably does
probably does rely on is it motorized or
is it not? Um, there's also a piece of
it that's just in terms of educating
kids about how much damage they can do
if they are going too fast. Um, that
speaks to this too. So
>> yeah, it it is a conundrum. There there
» yeah, it it is a conundrum. There there
are a lot of strange moving parts to
this one. It's going to be difficult for
us to to to tackle and but I appreciate
your work and the work of all all the
staff uh for taking it on.
>> Thanks. [clears throat]
» Thanks. [clears throat]
>> Um yeah, I have a couple comments. I um
» Um yeah, I have a couple comments. I um
I've had people talk to me about kids on
the bikes and the speeds that they go
and um the people that have talked to me
were not concerned about themselves.
They were only ever concerned about the
kids, which I find um helpful and
interesting in this whole thing that's
so confusing. Um but I also wanted to
make sure that we we think about
pedestrians in all of this, you know,
and and how quickly can they possibly
get out of the way. Um, and so while
you're looking for more input, I've I've
written some notes about other places
and other people's that that we should
include and when we're doing having
these discussions.
>> Excellent.
» Excellent.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.
» Um, so first of all, thank you very much
for all the work that you all have put
into this so far. Um, one of the things
I'm really curious about is have we
engaged with Hillyard City Schools to
talk about how it's impacting them in
their property? like when kids are
riding to to school or from school,
things like that. I mean, have we
engaged with them yet? I mean, I heard
you kind of say we're going to do an
educational outreach, but I feel like
they are a huge partner that we need to
start with at the at the very um
beginning of the conversation because
that those students are going to ride
those scooters or those ebikes on our
sidewalks, our roads, and then they're
going to end up at the school and then
leave. And so, I think it would be
really important that we engage them
now. So, I don't know how have we done
that yet.
>> So, we had at the last meeting of the
» So, we had at the last meeting of the
township schools and city um Dave
Stewart was there and I did ask him if
they had any data or metrics about how
many kids were writing these to school
or just the general patterns that they
had seen and my recollection is he did
not have much that was readily
available. He said they had much better
statistics about pedestrians and actual
walkers, but that that was a
conversation that we should absolutely
have. And so, um, to your point, I I
intend to keep that going and to keep
them pretty close as this continues to
unfold.
>> Well, and I I also would wonder if they
» Well, and I I also would wonder if they
haven't
>> maybe got gotten enough of a sense yet
» maybe got gotten enough of a sense yet
because the number of scooters and
things that I've seen this summer
compared to previous summers, it has
just exploded.
>> So, it may just be like they're just a
» So, it may just be like they're just a
little bit behind. So, I think it's
really important that we keep them in
the loop there. Um when we're talking
about the helmet piece,
>> um why would we want to become more
» um why would we want to become more
restrictive than what like is currently
being required?
Like why I mean I get safety. I get that
we want to do that, but is that going to
be as enforcable? Is it going to
potentially create an equity issue like
for some parents if they have they may
not be able to get the helmet for their
kids or the or if we're going to hold
parents liable. Kid left the house with
a helmet but they were caught downtown
without a helmet and now we're going to
hold a parent liable for this. So I I'm
I'm a little concerned about making a
broad sweep of saying now everyone needs
to have a helmet if they're under the
age of 16.
I think that's a fair point. I think two
two responses to that. One would be in
terms of the equity piece. U one of the
things that we've talked about is trying
to engage other partners to look at
something like a bike rodeo or a helmet
giveaway or some other ways that we can
connect folks who might not have access
to that resource to be able to to get
them one. Um and so that's certainly
something that we will keep plumbing.
Um, as far as the uh the requirement
itself, I think that um at least
speaking for myself, and I don't know,
Chief, you're welcome to weigh in on
this if you'd like, but um when we're
thinking about an officer's ability to
sort of approach or to engage that the
helmet is an immediately visible thing
that you either know that they're
wearing one or they're not. And so if
the behavior is maybe a little bit uh is
it reckless or no, do I have the backing
in the code to to start a conversation,
if they're not wearing a helmet and
that's a clear requirement in the code,
it just creates some backing for anybody
that wants to enforce or to engage that
child. Um it doesn't mean they're going
to get a citation. It doesn't mean we're
going to go after the parents
necessarily. It just means that that's
an expectation that's been codified and
then that way you start a conversation
from there. Um but you know to your
point um every place does it a little
bit differently. So I know our draft
ordinance I think we we went with age 18
just because that's you know the age of
majority basically. Some of our
neighbors I think are age 16. Um and I
don't want to put words in Thaad's mouth
but I believe that if council wanted to
change if council wanted to change the
age would that require another first
reading or we could they could basically
move to uh to adjust that now. correct
>> that could be amended now without having
» that could be amended now without having
to do a new legislative process.
>> Could I chime in on that?
» Could I chime in on that?
May maybe not required necessarily for
just regular bicycles, but for the
ebikes that can go 25 miles an hour in
the scooters because I mean I think
there's there's quite a difference on,
you know, a kid riding around on a bike
probably going 6, eight, maybe 10 miles
an hour on a bike, whereas these
scooters, like I said, I've seen them
going 25 miles an hour,
>> right? uh where if you know you wreck
» right? uh where if you know you wreck
you wreck on well you're going 25 miles
an hour and it's going to mess mess you
up.
>> I'm not sure if that answered your
» I'm not sure if that answered your
question though, but the a Campbell Soup
version would be it becomes another way
to engage. You know,
>> I appreciate that it is a very visible
» I appreciate that it is a very visible
piece. I see Chief who's nodding his
head back there. So, I appreciate that.
Um, I guess the way the language is
written makes me worried that then we're
going to have parents receiving
misdemeanors for their stu for their
children not wearing the helmet. And I I
I do want to hold our parents
responsible. As parents, we should be
responsible for our children. But I just
also I know kids are kids and they they
you know sneak out of the house when the
mom and dad says always wear it, but
then they go and mom and dad aren't
aware that they weren't wearing it and
then they're they're finding themselves
with a misdemeanor. It feels
» good evening. Um, one of the things that
we do now and and we always stress is is
we issue warnings. We do a written
warning and we record that information.
um a lot of lower level misdemeanors,
things that are are not violent, but uh
something that we feel that a warning
will handle. Um that's the route we
normally take to begin uh an enforcement
action with. I I would perceive that
that's the type of um of action we would
take for something like this as well. Um
if we catch someone without a helmet on,
we may stop, we may engage, we may
educate, we may issue a written warning,
and all that says is, "Hey, you violated
this
don't do that again. Uh we have that
information. If we happen to uh
re-engage with that kid some point in
the future, we have that information. We
may issue a citation at that second
point or, you know, we may try and, you
know, a little stronger um messaging uh
to them. But yeah, I I I don't see us
see a kid without a helmet, they're
going to get a ticket.
>> How would you ensure that the parent was
» How would you ensure that the parent was
aware that they received a written
warning? Um
>> because I know my kids wouldn't have
» because I know my kids wouldn't have
told me.
>> Yeah. I mean, yeah, I mean that that is
» Yeah. I mean, yeah, I mean that that is
tough. Um I I would say the other thing
that we have still is we have our
diversion program with with uh
juveniles. Um so that doesn't mean they
may get a ticket, but we may hold on to
it if they can complete a safety program
or something that there's a way to that.
That that way a parent is being
notified. But um that would be
secondary. I would start off with the
written warning first.
>> Okay. And if I may, with regard to the
» Okay. And if I may, with regard to the
par parental responsibility, one thing
that's in that uh proposed section is a
standard of of recklessness on the part
of the parent. So it's not a strict
liability offense. Um, when one of the
officers, if an officer were to write a
citation under this code, there would
have to be some additional
attendant circumstance that they would
articulate to say why they believe the
parent was reckless in this case with
allowing their child to violate a a
provision of this ordinance. So I think
that even in a you know a ticket happy
scenario, you wouldn't have parents just
getting citations left and right. It
would have to be a
a relatively
bad circumstance showing some knowing
indifference or indifference to a to a
known threat uh that the child would be
out violating the ordinance.
Not to belabor the point to but I also
think on some level the the proposed
ordinance is really intended to put
tools into the toolbox and but as a
practical matter we don't have enough
officers out you know out and about on
patrol to to go site every parent whose
kids not wearing a helmet. You know it's
it's more about creating those
mechanisms for an officer to have a
conversation if one needs to be had. Um
and and sure if there's um I mean I mean
I suppose that if uh a a an individual
or a child was being reckless and they
were warned and they kept doing it and
kept doing it and of course then we
would have other tools empoundment for
example to then have a parent come by
and grab the vehicle so we can talk to
the parent directly. Um it's more about
creating that that system so that we can
have a conversation at a series of
levels. um rather than just passing out
citations necessarily.
» Thank you. Thanks for all the work you
guys are doing. I know this is um a new
thing for all of Hillyard and all of the
city. Um just a couple things that I
just crossed my mind and when especially
when Kathy was saying about um the
schools. Um, I know we have this uh
safety town program which is teaching uh
kids about uh safety around uh you know
on on their bikes and and around town.
Um I I could see something like this
needed with the ebikes and having a
program if you plan on riding your bike
your ebike to school and of course we
have to have a place to store them. So,
we kind of have to know um in
conjunction with the schools how this is
going to um be um how if you know how
prevalent this is going to be this
school year. So, I think that if if I
don't know if it's too late now to have
a program like Safety Town, but hey, if
you plan on riding your ebike to school
this school year, uh we'd like to have
like a session with you and to go over
some rules and regulations and where you
can ride it. I think if we tell people
where they can ride it as opposed to
where you cannot ride it, I think that's
a little bit more positive way. And then
so they can say, "Okay, I know I can go
here and this is where I can ride it."
Um, and the kids would know this is how
they can get to school, maybe a path.
And if they can't think of a a path that
is, you know, permissible to ride their
bike, then I think we have to address
that, too. And having our our trails to
trails really connected is important,
especially if these ebikes are going to
continue. Um, so I I mean those are just
some options I thought that we can um
propose to uh the kids that are that own
these. Yeah,
>> that's great feedback. That's exactly
» that's great feedback. That's exactly
what I would intend to talk to Mr.
Stewart about
>> the school district is how do we start
» the school district is how do we start
to weave those conversations together?
>> Yeah. And I don't know if it's too late
» Yeah. And I don't know if it's too late
to have a program like that for these
kids or in the summer. I don't know.
>> Yeah. I'd have to ask him. And I on some
» Yeah. I'd have to ask him. And I on some
level though I think that your point's
well taken. anything that we can do um
particularly if council were to advance
the ordinance this evening about helmets
like that would be a pretty easy thing
to begin messaging um any other more
detailed stuff um may we we may message
later in the year but we would at least
have that conversation going and have a
pipeline to get the message out.
>> Yeah. Thanks.
» Thank you again. Um, I had a question
about, [clears throat]
um, when you started the the
presentation, we were reading off of the
website, which was talking about class
one and class 2's having a maximum speed
of 20. Um, but I did a little checking
today and um, apparently they go up to
28 miles per hour, the class ones and
class 2s and some of them actually
are allegedly able to go faster is what
I saw online. Um, now I spoke with our
local bike shop. He said bike shops are
only allowed to sell one and two. Um,
but you know people can easily buy
online. So, I'm sure we're getting a
wide variety of um speeds on those
bikes.
>> Yes, council member. So, the the
» Yes, council member. So, the the
definitions for those devices where the
20 for class one and class 2 and the 28
for class 3 that was set by state law um
that basically every city in the state
has copied. The state law also requires
a sticker on those devices. So, if it's
a true class one or class 2 device,
it'll have a sticker on it. and those
are maxed out at 20. The class three is
what's maxed out at 28 and has a little
higher safety precautions under state
law and Hillyard law right now. But I
have also been reliably told from the
law enforcement community that people
can mess with the governor on the
devices to make them go faster, but
that's not a legal way to operate those
devices.
>> Council, this Joe Bachelor, he's
» Council, this Joe Bachelor, he's
>> Oh, I'm sorry.
» Oh, I'm sorry.
>> He's an attorney.
» He's an attorney.
>> This this is my colleague Joe Bachelor.
» This this is my colleague Joe Bachelor.
Um he has become our resident expert at
FBT Gibbons on um micromobility devices
of all kinds to either his delight or
chagrin depending upon uh the moment we
catch him.
>> Awesome.
» Awesome.
>> Joe's been Joe, you were instrumental in
» Joe's been Joe, you were instrumental in
helping to pull together some of the
Matrix information that we showed this
evening. So yeah,
>> it's a fun time.
» it's a fun time.
>> Okay. So, so if I go to a local bike
» Okay. So, so if I go to a local bike
shop, I and
Thank you.
Um, I would
find that these bikes only have a
maximum posted speed of 20. Correct.
>> Yes. If the store is selling it how
» Yes. If the store is selling it how
they're supposed to under state law.
Yes.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> And the difference between the one and
» And the difference between the one and
two is the two helps you get to 20
regardless of whether you're pedaling or
not. the class one you have to pedal to
get the assist to get up to 20.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
For specific questions on the
legislation, do you want to wait until
the actual meeting to do those?
>> I don't have a strong preference. We
» I don't have a strong preference. We
have a little bit of time now. I think
we can go ahead and if you've got them.
>> I I do.
» I I do.
>> Yeah, that'd be great.
» Yeah, that'd be great.
>> Okay. Um
um
uh
under 373.04
in the legislation, it's talking about
turning a certain direction. I'm sorry I
don't have that up the um letter B, but
when I was reading it,
I was thinking which direction are you
talking about? Are you talking about
turning, making a right turn? Are you
talking about making a left turn? And
that was again 373.04B
is in boy.
This is where um
you can move moving from the right side
of the roadway if a dedicated turn lane
is present. Was that the section you're
referencing?
>> Yes, that letter B. Uhhuh.
» Yes, that letter B. Uhhuh.
>> Um.
» Okay.
>> Is that currently how a bicycle can
» Is that currently how a bicycle can
operate
>> right
» right
>> now? I mean, I ride bikes and if you are
» now? I mean, I ride bikes and if you are
riding along the right side of the road,
if there's a lefthand turn lane, you can
move into that turn lane, you have that
right to do that. That That's exactly
right. And that black text is current
law under our ordinances.
>> Right. Right. No, I realize that I've
» Right. Right. No, I realize that I've
never read our text. Understand.
>> This is my first time. Um.
» This is my first time. Um.
>> Yes. And when I was re reading it, I was
» Yes. And when I was re reading it, I was
picturing a left turn lane, but I wonder
if we can clarify that in in here so
that we all understand what we're
talking about versus
a right turn or
>> Mhm. Yeah. Yeah, I think that's
» Mhm. Yeah. Yeah, I think that's
absolutely something that we can look
at. I mean, part of this conversation, I
think, is about, especially when it
comes to how vehicles are being operated
in the roadway, which is like what this
section is dealing with, making sure we
have a clear understanding of that in
general. So, I'm happy to add that to
the list.
>> Letter C, right below that, um it talks
» Letter C, right below that, um it talks
about um
to writing more than to a breast. Um,
and I know it's been my experience out
on the paths that if you ride more than
two a breast, um, you're taking up the
whole path and
we're not allowing for people coming in
the opposite direction.
So I think the exception there would be
you're only allowed well according to
this code off the cuff um you're not
supposed to ride more than two a breast
unless you are on a path that is
specifically dedicated to
uh set aside for the exclusive use of
bicycles or ebikes or motorcycles. I'm
not aware that we have any
infrastructure like that that is
exclusively for bicycles. a lot of our
our shared use paths accommodate
pedestrians
>> um and other users as well. So I think
» um and other users as well. So I think
in general the prohibition against two a
breast would apply everywhere.
» Okay. So it's not like we're saying sure
you can do three or four a breast or
>> correct because we don't have any like
» correct because we don't have any like
specifically dedicated bicycle paths.
All of the paths are shared use paths
for bicycles um and pedestrians.
>> Okay. All right.
» It's only Well, that's the other thing,
too, is this uh this section title
governs um primarily the roadways
>> on roadway. Okay. So, not a shared use
» on roadway. Okay. So, not a shared use
path. Got it.
>> All right. That makes sense. Um
then I I don't know. I thought I kept
reading letter F and I wasn't quite sure
what that was saying. If you could
clarify, someone could clarify that.
Is that just saying you have to yield to
the bicycle?
>> They're there.
» They're there.
>> So it is
» So it is
So if you're turning,
yes, you have to yield to the bicycle.
Um
obviously so you don't cut off and hit
the bicycle or t-bone the bicycle.
the the last the very last um phrase
provided that the person is not passing
stopped vehicles on the right side and
is not visible to turning traffic.
>> I believe that that is trying to make an
» I believe that that is trying to make an
accommodation for
if the if the bicycle rider is riding in
such a way that they're not making
themselves visible. So, if you have
parallel parking on a street and if
there's room where the um or if you have
a
stopped traffic on a street and the
bicycle is on the right side and is not
visible, then this law is not going to
hold the turning vehicle
responsible for not yielding to that
bicycle rider who has put themselves in
a position not to be seen.
>> I see. Okay. All right. That makes
» I see. Okay. All right. That makes
sense.
Um, do do we require any kind of hand
signaling like if you're riding on the
roadway from
from bicyclists?
>> I believe in general it is a best
» I believe in general it is a best
practice.
» Yeah, I don't I don't know that there is
a specific requirement in the code. I
would need to look. But um as somebody
that just registered for Pelatonia, I
can tell you they're very upfront about
observing the rules of the road and
general courtesy and etiquette. Um so
there's a lot of conversation out there
about best practices, but I would need
to look [snorts] in our code
specifically.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
Um,
so
if I'm writing on a shared use path and
I I was looking at letter H on this one,
um, I don't have to wear a helmet then
if I'm on a shared use path.
>> No, the uh the the section here H is
» No, the uh the the section here H is
would basically require anybody that's
on a roadway operate operating a bike,
ebike, or any one of the devices that
we've talked about to be wearing a
helmet if they are under age 18. There's
a similar code change, I believe it's in
the next section that governs um similar
rules on shared use path. There's a
almost a copy paste of that blue section
H that would also require helmets for
any riders of these vehicles uh if they
are under age 18 on other
infrastructure.
>> Okay, great. Um
» Okay, great. Um
under the section 373.10 10 electric
bicycles. A2 said highway
and I was wondering
should we have it say roadway versus
highway? I don't know. I think of a
highway as like a freeway or a higher
speed road. Um 37310 A2.
>> Kelly will answer this one.
» Kelly will answer this one.
>> Okay. Good evening, council members. So
» Okay. Good evening, council members. So
that language is consistent with exactly
what OC describes it. And so at this
point we're just going with what the
description of OC. But what was
discussed this evening is we believe
that there will be changes given the
feedback that we get over the next few
months that this section regarding the
operation of class one, class 2, class 3
on roadway on electric bic or on shared
use pass will be um will be changed.
Currently class one, class 2 and class 3
the way our code is currently written
are allowed on shared use paths on
roadways everywhere. We are getting back
to where Ohio revised code is that pulls
class 3 bikes a little bit away from
that. So that's why the use the word
highway was used because it matches OC
and so we're starting at that baseline
and then we will further evaluate it
moving forward.
>> Okay. Thank you.
That's it.
» Okay. Oh, yeah. Go ahead.
>> Um, thank you for putting all those new
» Um, thank you for putting all those new
signage up. That's that's makes it very
clear. Um, you know, who's not allowed
to be riding around uh in Hillyard
Station Park. But my my I'm wondering,
are we going to put that same signage in
some of our other parks?
>> I think that's a conversation that we
» I think that's a conversation that we
can certainly have. happy to evaluate
that and look at it. I it um the con the
convenient thing about HSP is that it's
very contiguous. Um I would just want to
be really deliberate about how I'm I'm
thinking of a much larger park like
municipal park for example with where
you have a lot more trails running
through there. Um trying to kind of
regulate and then sign where we do and
don't want other vehicles could be a
much bigger endeavor. Um but I think
your point's well taken. It's something
to
>> my my example is um just at Heather
» my my example is um just at Heather
Ridge Park,
>> my neighborhood.
» my neighborhood.
>> Um I was down there with my my grandson.
» Um I was down there with my my grandson.
There a bunch of other little kids there
playing on the equipment. Yet there were
these kids who came in with with uh you
know they were probably 8 n 10 years
old. They were on electric scooters in
amongst the playground equipment riding
around it around and round and I kept
having to tell my grandson, "Don't get
on the slide right now because there's a
kid zooming around right there." I'm
just talking about like a sign posted
right right in front of the the
playground equipment at our parks to to
keep them out of there.
>> Yep.
» Yep.
>> You know, just to keep the little ones
» You know, just to keep the little ones
safe.
>> Yep. We can look at that, too. And that
» Yep. We can look at that, too. And that
actually brings up one other final point
just with respect to infrastructure,
too. We have had um some feedback about
maybe looking at something like a bike
park or a skate park or some other sort
of destination that kids may want to go
to. Um, I think that's also a
conversation to be had in the sense that
um, it, you know, a bike park is is
probably more of like a BMX, not
necessarily a motorized kind of
endeavor, but to the extent that kids
are looking for places to do little
jumps and do other things, whether
they're on a scooter or a skateboard or
whatever, um, I think that's also part
of the conversation, too, about maybe
creating a destination point or a focal
point for them to direct some of that
energy.
So,
>> all right. Well, thank you so much. Um,
» all right. Well, thank you so much. Um,
I I do think this is the right approach.
I like that it's collaborative, that
we're working iteratively as a council,
as a community um as we further define
what safety means for all of us. So,
yeah, looking forward to next steps and
thank you all so much for all your work
as a team. Um, items for discussion.
Does council have any other items to
discuss this evening during this
committee of the whole? Seeing none, u
Mr. Roush, do you have any additional
city manager updates for this committee
of the whole?
>> I've probably talked enough, but I
» I've probably talked enough, but I
appreciate your time and it's good
feedback for all of us. So, thank you.
>> All right. I would entertain a motion
» All right. I would entertain a motion
and a second to adjurnn this meeting.
>> So, move.
» So, move.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> All in favor say I.
» All in favor say I.
>> I.
» I.
>> Oppose. Same sign. This meeting is
» Oppose. Same sign. This meeting is
adjourned. We'll begin a regular meeting
around 6 p.m.