E-bikes are a growing concern for some in Warren as the use of the motorized bicycles increases.

Electronic bicycles downtown were a topic of concern at the City Council meeting on June 16. The Warren Police Department brought the issue of e-bikes on sidewalks in the downtown area to the council’s attention.

While no bicycles are allowed on sidewalks downtown due to state regulations, council members expressed concern over e-bikes especially. An e-bike, defined as “a pedalcycle with electric assist that weighs less than 100 pounds and whose motor is not more than 750 watts.” It has operable pedals and is not capable of going faster than 20 mph on a level surface when powered by the motor source only.

“Individuals, as well as council members, have expressed their concerns regarding what are generally known as e-bikes on sidewalks,” said Joe Sproveri, Warren police chief. “The city is researching increased signage to make people aware of the areas where the use of these apparatuses is prohibited on sidewalks and the city will also take measures to increase public awareness.”

Sproveri didn’t request the council to take any action yet, with the information discussed during the meeting for informational purposes.

A member of the audience said she had seen signs saying there was no riding on the sidewalks, but wondered if e0bikes could be ridden on the road – which they can. There were concerns that many near misses with pedestrians on sidewalks have occurred, though there have been no accidents with pedestrians reported.

“If the rider is on the sidewalks of the central business area, they are not permitted. If they’re observed, they are educated,” Sproveri said.

The American College of Surgeons reports that e-bikes are emerging as a public health issue

“The worldwide sales and use of electric bicycles (e-bikes) have grown dramatically in the past decade, particularly among children and adolescents, becoming an increasing source of road traffic-related morbidity and mortality. Surgeons around the world have witnessed a serious pattern of e-bike-related injury and death,” according to the ACS.

Further concerns were raised about the speed of the e-bikes on sidewalks, the danger to pedestrians, and the lack of licensing and age requirements. The council proposed looking at ordinances in other towns that have had similar issues to see what the potential solutions were.

Concerns were raised from the gallery about making onerous restrictions on e-bikes, such as registration, as many people depend on them as a less expensive means of transportation. Too much regulation could hurt downtown businesses.

Further actions will be looked at in future council meetings. The city could change city ordinances, but regulations regarding licenses, registrations and helmets would require changing state law. City traffic laws can be enforced on e-bike users.

“My concern is all sidewalks within the city,” said council member Maurice Cahsman. “These things can go up to 25 miles an hour. They don’t need to be licensed. There’s no age requirement and I was going down Madison Avenue, I know the speed limit is 25, I was going about 28, and this bicycle was keeping right up with me and looked like it wanted to pass me. We see them in our area, we see them on the sidewalks, there are children, there are people with baby strollers. I’m concerned. Let me put it that way.”