September 28, 2023
There has been an increasing number of calls concerning e-bikes and e-scooters. Residents and visitors have expressed concern that there have been near misses with pedestrians and people operating these devices.
Many of the riders appear to be local youth and the Village wants to advise parents of the law:
➢You must be 16 years of age or older to operate an e-bike or e-scooter.
➢ It is illegal to operate an e-bike or e-scooter on a public sidewalk.
➢ The devices may not be operated on any road with a speed limit greater than 30 MPH.
We often get questions about riding bicycles and skateboards in the village on sidewalks. It is permissible to ride a bike on a sidewalk but not in the commercial downtown district. All riders must walk their bikes in the commercial areas of Genesee and Jordan Street and skateboarding is prohibited in this area.
Here are a few other laws that pertain to bicycles and scooters:
➢ Everyone under 14 must wear a helmet.
➢ Bikes must be equipped with a light if operated one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
➢ Bicycles must be equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving an audible signal for a distance of at least 100 feet.
We urge everyone to exercise due care when riding on the roadways. Give warning when approaching pedestrians from the rear so they don’t walk into your path. Drivers need to be cautious when approaching people on bikes, scooters, and skateboards. Lastly, we urge all cyclists and riders to know the laws and it is important that parents teach their children as they can be held liable under §1230 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
We all need to work together to keep everyone safe.