Norwalk council advances e-bike, scooter rules with minimum public-use age set at 12

Norwalk’s City Council took the first formal step July 2 toward a local ordinance that would regulate electric bicycles, scooters and other personal transportation devices, adopting an amendment to set a minimum age of 12 for motorized use on public property.

The measure, presented by city staff and the police chief, rewrites Chapter 76 to classify devices by motor power and speed — including a 750‑watt threshold and restrictions on so‑called Class 3 electric bicycles — and makes a number of conduct requirements municipal infractions enforceable by the city.

The police chief, explaining the draft, said the ordinance is the product of several iterations and local peer reviews. “I didn’t want a situation where officers need to run radar on 12‑year‑old children on electric stand‑up scooters on the sidewalk,” the chief said, arguing staff avoided strict speed limits in favor of rules focused on careless or reckless operation.

Why it matters: Council members said they wanted local rules in place rather than waiting for a state law. The draft aims to balance enforcement practicality with pedestrian safety by restricting faster, higher‑powered devices from sidewalks and multiuse trails and by adding a parental‑responsibility clause for younger users.

Council debate focused on how to handle youth riders. A motion to set the minimum age at 14 failed; a subsequent amendment to set the minimum age at 12 passed on council action. The council also agreed to add an exemption to avoid unintended coverage of small children’s battery‑powered toys and to clarify where traditional bicycles may be ridden in parks.

Public commenters raised safety concerns. Gary Cook, a resident, urged helmet requirements: “At these kind of speeds … I would like to ask that you consider anything with a motor that you require helmets,” he said. Melanie Carpenter, another resident, described a family concussion from a bike crash and said helmets can be life‑saving. Richard Glade and Kevin Carpenter urged limits on double‑riding and more education for young riders in parks. The police chief confirmed the draft already restricts double riding and includes enhanced penalties for causing injury by careless operation.

The council voted to adopt the ordinance on first reading with the minimum‑age amendment and directed staff to bring back a proposal addressing helmet requirements for further discussion at a subsequent meeting.

The council’s next procedural step is a later reading (the ordinance was amended and accepted as a first reading). If it advances, additional edits — including the helmet requirement — will be considered before final adoption.