In the wake of three teenage girls being hospitalized after an e-bike accident Aug. 26 on Main Street, Midway’s city council this week took up the possibility of tighter restrictions.

“We were scheduled to talk about this before the accident happened last week. I think that accident just kind of brought it to the forefront,” city planner Katie Villani said. 

She informed councilors that while they don’t have the power to lift restrictions the state has already placed on the somewhat newly popular form of transportation, they can vote to add more rules that would apply to Midway specifically. The conversation didn’t revolve around any specific ordinance but rather was a chance for councilors to guide staff on what new codes they would like to see.

While explaining the different classifications and state regulations on e-bikes, city planner Katie Villani pointed out to the council that one state code provision — a rule requiring that all motorized vehicle passengers only use designated seats — could have potentially mitigated the recent accident if it were applied to e-bikes and appropriately followed.

As an example of a restriction they could set, she said the City Council could create that e-bike restriction to match what’s expected of other vehicle operators carrying passengers in Midway.

“We’re looking for guidance,” she said.

Jeff Drury didn’t skip a beat to offer his suggestions.

“If you’re under 18 and it’s got a motor, you’ve got to wear a helmet, I don’t care where it is. If you’re on a road, or a bike path that is connected to a road, you have to have a learner’s permit or a driver’s license. If it has a motor, you’ve got to understand the rules of the road. If you are on a sidewalk or any other path in the city, something that has a motor, you’ve got to be 14, you’ve got to be wearing a helmet” he said. “Boom, we’re done.”

Other councilors largely agreed, though Mayor Celeste Johnson said she didn’t want e-bikes on the sidewalk.

“I would say that the state’s pretty close to where I would start,” Councilor JC Simonsen said. “The biggest problem we have is we can’t enforce anything really right now. The mayor has tried telling them. … But we do need to enforce it.”

He wasn’t sure much more than the state’s requirements were necessary.

“The only other thing I think we could discuss would be a speed limit thing for an e-bike bike,” he said. “I’m not sure where to start with that. I mean, a pedal bike can go pretty fast too. Really, at the end of the day, all of this is a little bit about maturity.”

He said he’s glad e-bikes can help people get out and exercise and doesn’t want to stop their enjoyment. Because of that, he was hesitant to set age restrictions like Park City did when the community’s leaders decided only people ages 65 and up can use an e-bike on sidewalks and natural surface trails.

Drury said the issues he’s seen have come from riders under 14 who don’t understand how roads work and don’t have the judgment to make safe choices.

Some councilors wondered if a speed limit on e-bikes could be helpful, but Councilor Craig Simmons doubted it would be effective.

“You’re not going to control their speed,” he said. 

He mentioned how riders had ignored people trying to restrict their e-bike use in the past.

Other councilors thought a legal regulation tied to a possible fine would be enough to get people to tap their brakes.

A speed limit, Villani said, could be used as an enforcement tool for riders who are riding at unsafe speeds.

Johnson said she’s seen young kids on a trail who have caused walkers or runners to jump out of their path because they haven’t been able to control their e-bikes. An age limit is critical, she said.

“And, you can’t use your motorized thing to go through the grass,” she said. “It’s chewing up our parks. … You’ve got to stay on the designated trail.”