The Buchanan City Commission has approved an ordinance amendment seeking to reduce threats to public safety posed by e-bikes.
We’ve reported the new regulations would establish where different classes of e-bikes may be used in town so the fastest of the vehicles aren’t used on busy sidewalks. Commissioner Larry Money said at this week’s regular meeting that he was downtown for a concert on Saturday and saw the problem.
“[In the] Commons area, there were some young people riding their bicycles through there,” Money said. “There were young people on the street on sidewalks downtown.”
Money said it was difficult enough to get through the crowds without an E-bike whizzing by.
“Somebody says something about, where’s the cops? And I’m going, you need the National Guard down here, as many people as it were.”
City Manager Tony McGhee tells us under the newly amended ordinance, Class 3 e-bikes, the fastest of the e-bikes, will be prohibited from the downtown sidewalks. Class 1 and 2 will still be allowed. However, McGhee also noted the rules will remain relaxed for the faster E-bikes on many of the trails.
McGhee also said the ordinance amendment removes old language from the 1950s that requires bicycle license plates and bicycle inspections by the police department.
