Just over a week after two boys were critically injured in a crash involving an electric motorcycle and a truck there, trustees in Bloomfield Township decided to impose a temporary ban on e-bikes for those 15 years old and younger.
The six-month moratorium covers township-owned properties and rights-of-way "within the jurisdiction of the township." That would exclude thoroughfares under the jurisdiction of the county road commission and private property, for instance.
The resolution, which passed on a 6-1 vote at a board meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, notes that the moratorium "shall not apply to any use of e-bikes explicitly allowed pursuant to state law." Individuals who believe "they should receive an exception from this moratorium as an accommodation,
or for any other reason," can, it says, file a written request with the township supervisor that would than be reviewed by the board within 21 days.
A news release noted that "riders aged 16 years and older with a valid driver’s license are permitted to use e-bikes."
It's not clear what the penalty will be for violations. Bloomfield Township Police Chief James Gallagher, in a statement, said "education is our main priority right now. Most minors are not going out and purchasing these vehicles with their own money. We want parents to be aware of what they’re buying, what the vehicle is capable of, and covering best safety practices with their children."
During the meeting, officials indicated that the six-month window was selected in hopes Michigan legislators would tackle a subject that has gotten increasing attention in communities across the state. Council members in Warren, for instance, discussed the issue Tuesday evening but opted to table the matter.
Concerns have been growing across the state as the number of crashes and injuries has increased, especially involving young people using high-powered e-motos -- or electric motorcycles. That concern over crashes involving minors, particularly following the one on Labor Day, was a key reason cited by the Bloomfield Township board in its decision.
Notably, however, the moratorium focuses on e-bikes, which were defined under three classes in state law in 2017. They have to have operable pedals, for instance, and are speed limited (riders have to be at least 14 to operate a class 3 e-bike in Michigan).
During the discussion at the meeting, one official indicated state law already covers e-motos. Cycling advocates, however, have indicated that's the area they believe needs more clarity.
Calls have been growing for the Legislature to act. Legislation to address e-bike and e-moto issues has been proposed this session, but legislators who spoke to the Detroit Free Press indicated the political calendar makes a resolution more likely next year, although not impossible this year. Some e-bike enthusiasts and cycling advocates worry that without an update to state law, communities would push their own efforts, creating a patchwork of rules that might penalize responsible e-bike users.
But the number and severity of incidents have been hard to ignore, even though not all of them fit the same pattern.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday was investigating a crash involving a 42-year-old Rochester Hills man riding an e-moto and a 2009 Ford Ranger driven by a Village of Lake Orion man, 20, that morning. The Rochester Hills man, who was not wearing a helmet, was seriously injured in the crash when a vehicle blocking a crosswalk caused him to travel outside the crosswalk and into the path of the truck at the intersection in Rochester Hills. Speed didn't appear to be a factor, according to the sheriff's office, but it also appeared that the truck didn't obey the traffic light. Witnesses reported the Ford entered the intersection against a red traffic signal.
In the Bloomfield Township crash on Labor Day, two 13-year-old boys on an e-moto were in a crosswalk at South Telegraph and West Hickory Grove roads when they were struck by a southbound Ford F-250 driven by a 35-year-old Rochester Hills man, according to previous Free Press reporting.
Chief Gallagher told trustees the boys were “riding double” on the e-moto. Only one of the boys had a helmet, but it was rated for a bicycle, not a faster e-moto, and “they’ve got a long road to recovery.”Gallagher urged the trustees to take action.
“We have to get something done. It shouldn’t take a tragedy like this. We’ve been discussing it all summer,” he said.
The move in Bloomfield Township follows actions elsewhere.
In August, Berkley moved to prohibit e-bikes and e-motos from being ridden on sidewalks in that city among other changes. In June, Dearborn Heights banned e-bikes on city-owned property. Grosse Pointe has launched a campaign encouraging riders to “walk their wheels” in the Village shopping district.
Mindy Moore, secretary of the city council in Warren, said she'd prepared a presentation ahead of their Tuesday meeting but wanted the police department to participate in the discussion. The city has received complaints from residents about some e-vehicles. Moore said there have been some crashes in the city but none that involved fatalities. She described it as a serious issue.
Moore said that she thinks people are unclear on what is legal and what is not legal; what the differences are among e-vehicles; what police are encountering and how they are handling the situation, and if there is anything the council should do or any ordinances to change.
Eric D. Lawrence is the senior car culture reporter at the Detroit Free Press, and he also writes about recreational vehicles, boats and bikes. Send your tips and suggestions to elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Bloomfield Township's e-bike limits follow moves elsewhere
