Wadsworth officials consider e-bike regulations

WADSWORTH — Wadsworth officials are preparing to draft additional regulations for e-bikes after city officials and residents raised concerns about reckless riding, distracted riders and increasingly powerful electric bikes being used around the city. The Public Safety Committee discussed the issue on Wednesday and agreed that proposed legislation should initially focus on helmet requirements, distracted riding and reckless operation. Officials also discussed impounding vehicles and holding parents accountable for repeat or serious violations. The committee has not drafted or approved an ordinance. Public Safety Director Dan Chafin told the committee that e-bike use has increased rapidly and that the city has received complaints about e-bike safety, particularly involving younger riders. He also presented national injury data showing a sharp increase in reported e-bike-related injuries. "This is not just an Ohio problem," Chafin said, noting that communities around the country are considering new regulations. One challenge for Wadsworth is determining exactly what type of electric vehicle a rider is operating. Under Ohio law, electric bicycles are divided into three classes. Class 1 e-bikes provide motor assistance while the rider is pedaling and have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes have a throttle and can provide power without pedaling, also up to 20 mph. Class 3 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 28 mph and are restricted to riders 16 and older. Chafin said some of the devices being seen around Wadsworth resemble electric dirt bikes or motorcycles rather than traditional bicycles. "These are not the same bikes that we had as kids," Chafin said. He said some electric dirt bikes available online can reach speeds of 40, 50 or 60 mph. A legally defined e-bike must have fully operable pedals, Chafin said. A device that does not meet the state's e-bike definition may instead be subject to motor-vehicle requirements, depending on its characteristics. Officials also discussed smaller electric devices that can fall under Ohio's definition of a low-speed micromobility device, adding another layer of enforcement complexity. Chafin said officers also face difficulty determining the class of an e-bike simply by looking at it. The committee identified helmets as one of the easiest potential regulations to enforce. Chafin recommended requiring riders younger than 18 to wear helmets, saying an officer can readily determine whether a rider is wearing one. Distracted riding also could be addressed. Chafin said he has seen children riding e-bikes while using cellphones and has seen riders wearing large headphones that could prevent them from hearing surrounding traffic. The committee also discussed creating a reckless-operation provision covering behavior such as dangerous maneuvers, excessive speeds and other unsafe riding. Council member Jon Yurchiak, who chaired the committee meeting, said he has seen young riders disregard traffic rules, including riding through stop signs. "I think helmets, distracted driving and reckless operation are great places to start," Yurchiak said. Deb Holcomb, president of Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery, described an incident involving several young riders. She said one rider crossed a roadway through the cemetery without slowing and came within feet of a vehicle. Holcomb said education should be part of any response. "If you go into the schools, you have a representative from the police department," she said, suggesting officers explain the rules directly to students. Wadsworth previously conducted a social media education campaign about e-bikes that generated nearly 24,000 views or interactions, Chafin said. Despite that effort, he said he believes the problem has worsened over the past year. Police Chief David Dorland said education also needs to reach parents. He said officers have encountered parents who were surprised to learn that the way their children were operating the devices was not legal. The committee discussed creating educational materials that could explain the different classes of e-bikes and the rules applying to each. Officials also want to better measure the scope of the problem. Dorland said the police department could create a specific dispatch call type for e-bike complaints, allowing the city to track calls going forward. Chafin cautioned that calls could initially increase after new regulations are adopted because greater public awareness could lead residents to report violations they previously did not recognize. The committee also discussed consequences for violations. Chafin said officers could use warnings and education for less serious violations, while impoundment could be considered for repeat offenders or particularly reckless conduct. "We are not trying to punish our way out of the problem," Chafin said. Law Director Bradley Proudfoot said the city would need to work through the details of any parental-liability provision and suggested involving Medina County Juvenile Court officials because juveniles cited under the ordinance could ultimately appear in juvenile court. The committee agreed to keep the issue within the Safety Committee while city officials begin developing proposed legislation. For now, officials plan to address helmets, distracted riding, and reckless operation, with impoundment and parental accountability still under consideration. The city has not set a date for a proposed e-bike ordinance to come before Wadsworth City Council. Contact reporter Brooke Adams at 440-822-8373 or badams@medina-gazette.com.