Northglenn passes e-bike, e-scooter regulations

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLROADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Northglenn won’t take chances with e-scooters, adopting some new rules for how and where they can operate.

At the May 22 city council meeting, Northglenn unanimously approved an ordinance that will put guardrails on where e-bikes, e-scooters and other devices can be used in the city.

“ is use is already happening pretty signi cantly out in our parks and neighborhoods,” said Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Amanda Peterson.

It comes after six months of council and city sta developing a plan of how to address the relatively new transportation modes. A study session on Nov. 21 started the conversation on the topic and another study session on April 17 nailed down what the council could move forward with.

Currently, children can’t operate e-scooters and they can’t be operated on City property, according to the meeting’s agenda. It comes down to how the code de nes Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices and Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices which was changed with the new law.

e new ordinance will allow for sidewalks.

It also allows the city to designate where e-scooters, e-bikes and powered mobility devices are prohibited, and where riders will need to of 18 must wear a helmet at all times. current ordinance would mean if a child is riding an e-scooter on our trails or on our streets, or an adult for that matter, it would be permissible. Right now, it’s against our ordinance to allow any child to be on any scooter or any toy vehicle in our city, regardless of where it’s at,” said Peterson.

It also comes down to state law, which according to City Attorney Corey Ho man, the City can’t regulate e-scooters di erently than e-bikes. e city does not regulate ebikes currently, Peterson said.

E.B. Rains Park will be a pilot program to encourage the correct use of e-bikes and e-scooters. is means that sta will use signs and trail marking to identify where riders will need to dismount.

Mayor Pro Tem Shannon Lukeman-Hiromasa asked if the ordinance is consistent with other cities.

“It’s de nitely a mix. Everyone is in a similar boat trying to play catch up with similar ordinances,” said Peterson.

She said those who have recently updated their code look similar to Northglenn. As an example, she said whether a child can or cannot ride an e-scooter on a sidewalk is blurry in other cities, as well as Northglenn. is ordinance allows for children to ride the scooters, but Mayor Meredith Leighty expressed concern over that.

“I don’t think small children should be on those electric scooters, but that’s not for me to say,” she said.