<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3un6iP_1GlIDyfU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3un6iP_1GlIDyfU00" width="500" height="334" >NOVI — The city of Novi is looking into ways to regulate the use of e-bikes after safety concerns with their use were brought to the City Council’s attention. Mayor Justin Fischer said that city leaders had heard from residents at meetings and via emails about concerns with the e-bikes. “And with other cities taking a look, we thought it would be prudent to see if Novi wanted to put in some safeguards,” Fischer said.According to a document from City Manager Victor Cardenas, the principal concerns are speed, young or inexperienced operators, sidewalk and trail conflicts, difficulty distinguishing legal electric bicycles from higher-powered electric vehicles, and enforcement. The document cited recent incidents in nearby municipalities involving minors using e-bikes In Bloomfield Township, two 13-year-olds were critically injured while crossing Telegraph Road on an electric vehicle believed to be an e-motorcycle; in Farmington Hills, a 9-year-old girl was hit by an e-moto as she exited her school bus in early October, according to the document. There are three classifications of e-bikes and an additional class for e-motorcyles, according to the city of Novi. Essentially, the speed capability for the vehicles gets higher as the classification number goes up. E-bikes in class 1 and 2 are capable of speeds up to 20 mph, while a class 3 e-bike can go up to 28 mph. E-motos can go up to 40 mph and are very similar in appearance to dirt bikes. According to the city of Novi, while there are some limited regulations on e-motos, there are none on e-bikes, causing local governments to create their own ordinances, which will likely vary from city to city. Fischer said he would support a ban on e-motos and class 3 e-bikes on all city trails and sidewalks. “The city of Novi is not the kind of place where e-motos make sense,” Fischer said during the Oct. 12 council meeting. “Go on private property, go on larger trails, go on someone’s farm and use them all you want, but the city of Novi is realistically not the kind of place for e-motos.” Councilman Dave Staudt said that they are not looking to overburden police officers with the need to patrol bicyclists. “I think that whatever ordinances that we end up writing need to be very clear, very specific to this purpose, and don’t add a lot of additional burden onto our police officers,” Staudt said. Councilman Brian Smith said that the ordinance should make clear that the reasonable speed for conditions includes regular bicycles as well. “As the mayor alluded to, a lot of people can exceed 28, 30 mph on a regular bicycle, so any ordinance that covers reasonable for conditions should cover regular bikes, too. You get hit by an e-bike or just a pedal bike, you’re still hit,” Smith said. “I’d love to see if we can do something to see if we can get these bikes to stop at intersections as well,” Mayor Pro Tem Laura Marie Casey said. Councilman Aaron Martinez expressed his surprise to learn from the public how many people over the age of 18 are using e-bikes as a primary source of transportation. He recalled how one community member told him that he uses an e-bike to get to and from work and makes sure to do it safely. Several of the council members also expressed their desire to see educational programs implemented for young people at schools and scout meetings, for example. Cardenas told the Novi Note on Nov. 3 that he expects to come back to the council with a proposed ordinance during the Nov. 23 City Council meeting. </div></body>

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NOVI — The city of Novi is looking into ways to regulate the use of e-bikes after safety concerns with their use were brought to the City Council’s attention. Mayor Justin Fischer said that city leaders had heard from residents at meetings and via emails about concerns with the e-bikes.

City looking into ways to regulate e-bikes

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NOVI — The city of Novi is looking into ways to regulate the use of e-bikes after safety concerns with their use were brought to the City Council’s attenti

City looking into ways to regulate e-bikes

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