Warren council weighs education, enforcement and signage after downtown e‑bike safety complaints
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Council members, police and residents discussed updates to signage, public education and enforcement for bicycles and micromobility devices downtown after residents presented video evidence and liability concerns; no citywide ban was adopted, staff recommended continued use of existing code and stepped-up education and enforcement.
Warren City Council on July 21 discussed safety and liability concerns tied to bicycles, e‑bikes, scooters and similar micromobility devices operating on downtown sidewalks after residents presented video evidence and asked for stepped‑up enforcement and new signage.
The issue drew extended public comment and multiple council exchanges. Resident John Lewis said his roundabout camera captures frequent sidewalk travel by e‑bikes and e‑skateboards and urged the city to (1) run an education campaign, (2) install enforceable signage and (3) provide targeted daytime enforcement. Lewis said his insurer advised him that without signage property owners can face liability when someone is injured on their property.
Chief Rivera told council the combination of the city code (chapter 440) and the Pennsylvania micro‑mobility guidance covers downtown sidewalk use; he said officers have begun educating riders and issuing contacts and that enforcement paperwork can document repeated warnings before a citation.
Council members discussed options that ranged from an immediate citywide ban on e‑bikes on sidewalks to a phased approach emphasizing updated signage, public education and focused enforcement in the Central Business District. Several council members recommended outreach to schools and kiosks and asked staff to coordinate messaging with the market and bike shops. The council did not adopt a new ordinance at the meeting.
Staff recommended continuing to rely on existing city code and the state guidance while updating signage, conducting a public awareness campaign and documenting enforcement contacts so repeated violations could escalate to citation. Police will continue to make contacts downtown and tailor enforcement to locations with the highest observed misuse.
Councilmembers also discussed potential state‑level coordination; several members asked staff to prepare a letter or request for guidance to state legislators and to monitor pending Commonwealth studies and bills related to micromobility regulations.
The council asked staff to: update and replace faded bike markings and downtown signage, develop an education rollout (including kiosks and QR codes and school outreach), and to return with any recommended ordinance language only after further review and consultation with the solicitor and police.