Police enforcing helmet use, plan an education campaign
VILLAS — The use of E-bikes is under scrutiny after residents complained about safety concerns, particularly at the Clem Mulligan Sports Complex.
E-bikes, or electric bikes, are bicycles with integrated motors and batteries to assist the rider’s pedaling power.
There are three classes: The first is a pedal-assist up to 20 mph; class 2 has a throttle and pedal-assist up to 20 mph. Both have motors that are less than 750 watts. Class 3 e-bikes can go over 20 mph, more than 750 watts and require registration, insurance and riders must be at least 15 years old with a valid mo-ped license.
“I know there is a general dislike for them on the roadway,” Deputy Police Chief Donald Vanaman told Township Council on July 7. “There are people who use them now as primary transportation.”
Vanaman acknowledged the department has had complaints about e-bikes being ridden in the sports complex, but said the biggest complaint was e-bikes riding against traffic.
Vanamna said the department recently distributed a public news release as well as a RAVE alert and social media posts on the safety rules.
Police Capt. Michael Majane said officers have targeted enforcement for helmets and respond when they are called for complaints. He said a complete ban on e-bikes could cause confusion for the officers.
“We won’t be able to tell if someone is pedaling or just using the battery power,” Majane said
Vanaman said the school resource officer and support operations will be starting a helmet campaign with local businesses.
“We’re going to be out in the streets talking to the kids about helmets,” he added.
Solicitor Robert Belasco said there has been talk at the state level about enacting legislation to regulate e-bikes.
“I think you’re going to see that in the near future, given how generally accepted e-bikes have become [for] transportation,” Belasco said. “There is an enforcement issue here, as the deputy chief spoke about.”
Belasco agreed setting rules and regulations would be better than an outright ban. He said Township Manager Mike Laffey pointed out that some of the parks are designed to facilitate riding in some respects.
“I do agree that target enforcement is probably the best approach at this juncture, given how difficult it is to identify these things [if a ban] is imposed,” Belasco said.
Laffey suggested having an informative table during National Night Out to educate anyone using e-bikes about the safety precautions the township can institute.
“If we can educate people to use them properly, maybe we’ll have less injuries,” Laffey said.
Resident Sabina Bloom said she has called the police multiple times when she has seen e-bikes and mo-peds in the sports complex.
“The kids are not going to listen to you about safety, they don’t care,” Bloom said. “Their parents probably don’t care either.”
Mayor Frank Sippel acknowledged the frustration regarding the e-bike situation and asked the public for some time to work through the issue.
“The police department and manager are here, and they will get together and work on something to do the best they can,” he said. “My best advice here is to call the police department if there’s an issue out there.”
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
