Will Ocean City put the brakes on electric scooter rentals? Resort weighing ban
A move by the Town Council of Ocean City to ban the rental of small electronic scooters and e-bikes is gaining traction.
What should have been further discussion during a January work session to review licenses for businesses and fees for the rental of such vehicles (regarded as Class 1, 2 and 3 vehicles), turned into a debate on them altogether. The town ordinance was callled into question, citing growing safety concerns.
"The Ocean City Council has asked that the city staff to provide research and alternatives for additional regulation or the potential prohibition of the rental of small displacement vehicles (scooters, scoot coups, mopeds, e-bikes and similar vehicles) within Ocean City. Several council members have expressed concerns regarding the safe use of these vehicles by inexperienced operators on public streets," the Office of the Mayor of Ocean City said in a statement to Delmarva Now.
The statement went on say the mayor and council will review the information provided by the staff and discuss what if any additional actions should be taken at a future council work session.
Electronic scooter rental in Ocean City a "thrill ride"
During the Jan. 10 work session, members of the council sounded off on their concerns over current rental policies.
"We don't need more vehicles on Coastal Highway in bus lanes and we're trying to get bikes off that (roadway). I'm fine with someone who owns an e-bike, but not with rentals," said Council Secretary Tony DeLuca as he doubled down on his opposition to businesses renting them to visitors.
According to the 6-1 vote to move forward with a formal proposal to seek such a ban, "it shall address holders of existing business licenses and give them three years from April 1, 2023, to adjust their business model to discontinue the rental of the previously mentioned items."
Continental Cycle on 72nd Street and Cycle City on 31st Street are currently the only two licensed businesses that rent small electric vehicles. Just last year, the council denied a conditional use permit request for a new business looking to offer light vehicle rentals and Segway tours. The conditional use was requested for Light Riders, which would rent Polaris slingshot vehicles, which are three-wheeled, electric scooters, low-powered light mopeds and Segways.
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The business would have included guided Segway tours in the morning hours on the Boardwalk for groups, families or corporate team-building exercises.
Councilmember William Savage, in the more recent meeting, added choosing to place regulations on some electronic vehicles for rent and not others is a slippery slope. His solution simply banned their rental across the board.
"This is a quality-of-life issue for our residents and a safety issue for our stakeholders. All these devices would be rented, if allowed, to be used as a thrill ride in my opinion. The majority of the renters won't be using them for transportation, and we have evidence of that now," Savage said.
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He cited the various methods of making Coastal Highway safer — from traffic lights, fences and crosswalks — with these vehicles running counter to those efforts. He argued their increasing use in residential areas and in lanes used by both buses and first responders makes their expanded use unwarranted.
Councilmembers Frank Knight and Carol Proctor echoed those sentiments but noted it would take some time to implement a permanent change to rented electric vehicles.
"I'm all for not allowing anything electric on the boardwalk, but there are some things we have to do and Segways are already there," Knight said.
A revised draft of an ordinance will be presented during a future work session before the public is asked for input.
E-bike, electric scooter safety tips
A spokesperson for the Ocean Police Department told Delmarva Now, "bicycles and scooters operated on Coastal Highway are considered vehicles. All operators must obey traffic laws."
Among their tips to renters of e-bikes and electric scooters are:
• Stop at all red lights and stop signs.• Ride in the direction of traffic on the road.• When going north, ride on the northbound side.• When going south, ride on the southbound side.• Do not ride on a sidewalk; it is illegal and dangerous.• Ride sober. Don’t ride a bicycle or operate a scooter while impaired by alcohol or drugs.• Avoid distractions and pay attention. Don’t carry anything that prevents you from keeping both hands on the handlebars. Don’t use mobile devices or wear earbuds.• Your bike must have lights after dark: white in front; red in back.• Don’t allow anyone to ride on the handlebars; one person per seat.
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This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Ocean City, Md. electric scooter rental ban considered
