Resident urges city action on speeding e-bikes on sidewalks downtown

Judy Merrill, a resident of The Dalles, told the City Council on Sept. 22 she has repeatedly observed electric bicycles and scooters operating at high speeds on downtown sidewalks and along the edges of traffic. “They’re going a lot of them are going faster than I am in my car,” she said, adding that most appear to be adults and that the problem has worsened.

Merrill said she has raised the issue at two Traffic and Safety Commission meetings and plans to return to a future meeting; she urged councilors to consider pedestrian safety for residents and tourists, particularly near shops and cruise‑ship traffic.

Councilors acknowledged the concern; no formal action was taken at the meeting. Staff have previously noted that public-right-of-way regulations remain in force and that enforcement and engineering responses can be evaluated by the Traffic and Safety Commission.

Ending note: Residents who raised sidewalk‑safety issues indicated they will continue to pursue the matter with the Traffic and Safety Commission and mayoral staff.