DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – City leaders in Dearborn Heights are considering creating an ordinance that would regulate children’s use of electric bikes and scooters.
And one city council member said this could include penalties for both kids and their parents who don’t follow the ordinance.
The proposal follows two recent crashes involving children under 13 riding e-bikes, including one earlier this week.
Both left the children injured.
The city’s director of communications, Mohamed Qasim, said they want to curb such accidents by setting clear rules on where and how young riders can use e-bikes.
Qasim said the city’s attorneys are working to draft the ordinance so it doesn’t infringe on anyone’s rights or go against state rules.
While it’s unclear what this will be, he noted this could include where e-bikes can be ridden or how they could be patrolled.
“They’re too fast for the sidewalk,” said Rob Akers, an owner of International Bike Shop. “They’re dangerous.”
Akers’ shop, which also sells e-bikes, said those bikes have many benefits but believes cities need clear guidelines for safe operation, especially when children are involved.
To learn more about what the Dearborn Heights ordinance might include, Local 4 reached out to Hassan Saab, a city council member who recently posted on social media that “any minor found operating these machines in violation of laws could face enforcement action and so will parents.”
In a phone call, the council member said city attorneys are still determining the specifics but added that he hopes the final ordinance includes “hefty fines” for violators. He said this way it would help deter parents from letting kids ride them.
Not everyone supports that approach.
“Why would you fine a parent for letting their kid enjoy life?” said Chris, a resident who questioned the idea of penalizing adults for their children’s behavior. “An e-bike is nothing more than a gift, a toy.”
Latanya Gater commented underneath the councilmember’s post, saying in part:
“I think your post (while the intent may have been to give advanced notice to the public regarding a chronic safety matter that has had a negative impact on many), it does read as if you had not taken into consideration parents who have researched and implemented safe practices regarding electric bikes and the like.”
Dearborn Heights is not the only community seeing issues with minors operating motorized vehicles.
Birmingham police on Thursday (April 16) released a memo reminding parents that motorized vehicles should not be driven on sidewalks and warning that adults could face consequences for allowing unlicensed children to ride them.
The Dearborn Heights director of communications said the city’s attorney aims to have a draft of the ordinance ready for the next City Council.
According to the city’s website, the meeting is at the end of the month.