Peters Twp. Ordinance Regulates Electric Bikes
Peters Township Council passed an ordinance that regulates the use of electric bicycles and other vehicles on township owned property. According to Peters Township Police Captain Judd Emery, police have been receiving calls daily about the reckless use of electric bikes in parks and along trails throughout the township. Riders have been seen tearing up the grass in parks and have been confrontational with walkers especially along Arrowhead Trail. Highlights of the ordinance limit the speed of the electric bikes to 15 miles per hour, in line with other similar ordinances. They must stay on paved pathways and are strictly prohibited from going on fields, grass or open spaces on township property. It requires operators of electric bikes to be at least 16 years of age and helmets must be worn until age 21. According to Emery, this is an educational notice to parents as well, because some of the newer versions of electric bicycles actually require riders to be licensed. He said that kids can have all of the fun they want on private property, but on public property not only are there township regulations, state regulations are at play also. Emery was adamant that the township does not want to see any rider injured or killed by being reckless with their riding of the electric bicycles. In other township business, Council also authorized the $75,000 purchase and installation of 16 high resolution cameras and two license plate readers to be placed in Peterswood Park. They will serve as an investigative tool when incidents occur in the park.