Residents told the Defiance City Council on July 22 that motorized bicycles riding on sidewalks and moving at high speed are creating safety hazards downtown and at neighborhood intersections.

“Something's gotta be done because it's getting hazardous out there,” resident Bonnie Posey said during public comment, describing near-miss incidents and people using sidewalks as throughways. Posey urged the council to address the problem after describing an incident near the Burger King where a rider on a motorized bicycle nearly struck pedestrians.

Mayor Joe McCann told the meeting that Chief Frank Herbert has identified sidewalk e-bike enforcement as a point of emphasis and that the police department is working with patrol officers on enforcement. City Law Director Mark O'Donnell said the city needs to check whether state law limits the city's authority: he noted the Ohio General Assembly has acted to define classes of electric bicycles in state statute and said he would research whether the city can impose stricter local restrictions.

Council members and residents discussed enforcement challenges: speakers said many e-bikes have pedal-assist modes that make it hard to tell whether a rider is pedaling or using the motor, and that speeds observed downtown appear to range up to 20–45 miles per hour on some devices. Councilmember comments cited safety concerns for pedestrians crossing alleys and at downtown intersections.

No formal ordinance was adopted at the meeting; O'Donnell said he would research preemption and local authority and report back. Mayor McCann and council indicated that the police department will pursue traffic enforcement in the near term while staff examine legal options.

The discussion combined public comment and council follow-up: residents asked for regulatory changes and enforcement; city leaders said enforcement and a legal review are the next steps.