E-bikes under review in McCandless after complaints of usage on Brandt Trail

The safety and use of electronic bikes, also known as e-bikes, are under review in McCandless because of an increase in calls over concerns and complaints.

Regulating e-bikes is not easy since these recreational transportation devices may, in some instances, fall under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. However, they can be regulated within the town.

“We are limited in what we can do and enforce on the roadways and a lot of that is up to the state. The best we can do is start discussions and try to educate parents and kids who seem to be riding these about their hazards and how to properly ride them, if they are going to ride them,” town Manager John Schwend said.

Most concerns with e-bikes have been on roadways, with several complaints regarding their use on Brandt Trail at Wall Park in McCandless.

“I think as council members, we have all received complaints about this. It’s a complicated process,” said Jason Singer, who serves as council president.

The town partly defines e-bikes as a pedal cycle not more than 100 pounds with two or three wheels and using an electronic motor system rated at not more than 750 watts. E-bikes have operable pedals and are capable of speeds of no more than 20 mph.

Electronic motorized devices include motor-driven cycles and one-wheel, self-balancing electric skateboards.

A list of recommendations was presented to town council at its Oct. 13 meeting after McCandless administration reviewed legislation of comparable communities that have successfully regulated e-bikes.

Council said these are simply recommendations and are not an approved ordinance or law. The intent is to start discussions regarding the usage and safety of e-bikes.

So far, the recommendations include that e-bikes or electronically motorized devices should not carry more than the number for which it is designed and the rider or riders must be seated upright. Helmets should be required for riders younger than 21.

E-bikes must remain on asphalted or concrete pathways at all times when operating in the town’s public parks, including Brandt Trail. And they should not exceed 15 mph on public pathways.

And these bikes cannot be used on grass, fields or open spaces within the parks, including shelters, courts and playgrounds. All operators of e-bikes must be at least 16 years old. And riders of e-bikes must yield to pedestrians at all times.

The bikes are only allowed on public parks from dawn to dusk.

The town will install signage regarding these rules and other information.

Recommendations further state that parents or guardians shall not authorize or knowingly permit a child to violate any provision of the ordinance, once it has been approved and passed. Fines or penalties may be incurred for violations yet to be determined.

The Franklin Park Police Department took a proactive approach to educating its community on e-bikes earlier this year.

“Like many communities, we noticed an increase in e-bike usage and related inquiries within the borough during the summer months. We discovered that many families and parents were unaware of the laws governing e-bikes and assumed that because they were available for purchase, their children could legally operate them,” said Franklin Park police Chief Aron Leach.

The department then took the intiative to educate the community by sharing a quick-reference guide provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on the borough’s social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, according to Leach.

“A top priority in our community is ensuring the safety of all motorists, children and pedestrians. By promoting awareness and education, we aim to help everyone share the road responsibly and safely,” Leach said.

Robert Grimm, manager for Marshall, said the township has fielded several calls from the community regarding usage of e-bikes and concerns about safety.

“We have also noticed a significant increase in e-bikes and e-scooters on our trails. They are more powerful than you would expect and do quite a bit of damage to our limestone sand trails throughout the twp trail system,” he said.

McCandless is planning to focus on educating the public about e-bikes, such as through the police department, at community events and other outreach opportunities.

In the meantime, council members and town administrators are open to suggestions.

“Take a look at it. Email council members. Email administration. We all want to fix this problem, but this one is going to take some time,” Singer said.