12.b) First Reading of Proposed Ordinance 2022-08 Amending Sections 12-1-110 and 12-1-511 of the Municipal Code for the Town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina with Regard to e-Bike Regulations
I attended the Town Meeting on April, 28, 2022 concerning e-bikes. As a daily pathway and beach user, I appreciate the time you are spending to make the best decisions for Hilton Head. I have concerns after the meeting:
SC Law
Mr. Ames stated that if the Town does not allow e-bikes on our multi-use pathways, we have to exclude traditional bikes, due to SC Law. That is NOT what the law states.
The law says that e-bikes must be allowed on state roads that allow traditional bikes and designated bike lanes, like we have on Arrow Road and Pope Avenue. The law was written to avoid treating e-bikes as mopeds so e-bikes do not have to be registered and licensed.
Additionally, the law pertains only to Class 1, fully operable pedals and not be permitted to be powered by throttle only.
Safety
From a Reuters Health and Pharma article: “E-bike injuries were also more than three times as likely to involve a collision with a pedestrian than either scooter or traditional bike injuries, the researchers report in the journal Injury Prevention.”
• The Town safety literature is nice but will be ignored by most e-bike riders.
• Bike companies stated at the meeting, they cannot tamper with the governor to lower the speed and many e-bikes do not have speedometers.
• There is NO possible way a speed limit can or will be enforced on the pathways.
• Traditional bikes average 9 mph.
• E-bikes can travel 20-30 mph and will be passing within inches of pedestrians.
• Each week new visitors will be renting and experiencing e-bikes for the first time. This will be a dangerous situation for pedestrians and traditional bike riders due to unfamiliarity with the speed and weight of the e-bike.
• Many cities allow e-bikes on streets and on bike lanes, NOT multi-use pathways busy with pedestrians.
• If e-bikes are allowed on our multi-use pathways, the pathways will become bike lanes. Where will pedestrians safely walk, the street?
• Our beaches will be a very dangerous place for pedestrians walking the beach, families playing on the beach, and children running back and forth from the water with e-bikes speeding by 20-30 mph!
Please consider the safety and experience of ALL visitors and residents who will be affected not just the e-bike riders.
I attended the Town Meeting on April, 28, 2022 concerning e-bikes. As a daily pathway and beach user, I appreciate the time you are spending to make the best decisions for Hilton Head. I have concerns after the meeting:
SC Law
Mr. Ames stated that if the Town does not allow e-bikes on our multi-use pathways, we have to exclude traditional bikes, due to SC Law. That is NOT what the law states.
The law says that e-bikes must be allowed on state roads that allow traditional bikes and designated bike lanes, like we have on Arrow Road and Pope Avenue. The law was written to avoid treating e-bikes as mopeds so e-bikes do not have to be registered and licensed.
Additionally, the law pertains only to Class 1, fully operable pedals and not be permitted to be powered by throttle only.
Safety
From a Reuters Health and Pharma article: “E-bike injuries were also more than three times as likely to involve a collision with a pedestrian than either scooter or traditional bike injuries, the researchers report in the journal Injury Prevention.”
• The Town safety literature is nice but will be ignored by most e-bike riders.
• Bike companies stated at the meeting, they cannot tamper with the governor to lower the speed and many e-bikes do not have speedometers.
• There is NO possible way a speed limit can or will be enforced on the pathways.
• Traditional bikes average 9 mph.
• E-bikes can travel 20-30 mph and will be passing within inches of pedestrians.
• Each week new visitors will be renting and experiencing e-bikes for the first time. This will be a dangerous situation for pedestrians and traditional bike riders due to unfamiliarity with the speed and weight of the e-bike.
• Many cities allow e-bikes on streets and on bike lanes, NOT multi-use pathways busy with pedestrians.
• If e-bikes are allowed on our multi-use pathways, the pathways will become bike lanes. Where will pedestrians safely walk, the street?
• Our beaches will be a very dangerous place for pedestrians walking the beach, families playing on the beach, and children running back and forth from the water with e-bikes speeding by 20-30 mph!
Please consider the safety and experience of ALL visitors and residents who will be affected not just the e-bike riders.