Council sends proposed sidewalk scooter and e‑bike rules back to committee for more review

The Waukesha Common Council voted 14–0 to send a proposed ordinance regulating powered scooters, e‑bikes and similar vehicles on city sidewalks back to the Ordinance & Licensing Committee for further work.

Alderperson Manion moved to refer the item back to committee, saying the committee was shorthanded for its initial review and that the police department and city attorney expressed differing views about what the ordinance should include. “We were shorthanded on the committee… we didn’t get a full opportunity to completely, robustly discuss this,” Manion said, asking council support to return the item to committee for a more complete review.

Alderperson Lemke urged committee members to consider age-related effects, saying she would not support any ordinance that forced children 12 and under to ride in the street and suggested the council consider rules allowing 13‑year‑olds and older on streets.

The mayor and other council members encouraged public feedback and participation in the committee process. The council recorded a unanimous vote to refer the draft back for reworking; the item will return to council after committee review and possible redrafting by staff.