SCITUATE — Select Board Member Nico Afanasenko said he plans to solicit suggestions and feedback on e-bike riding in town in future public meetings, citing safety concerns about increasing usage of high-speed “micromobility devices.”
Afanasenko said that 8- to 18-year-olds are the primary users of e-bikes in Scituate, and its position as a relatively wealthy town means that more families can purchase newer, faster models for their children, increasing the likelihood of injuries.
During the May 12 select board meeting, Afanasenko shared his plan to host public meetings asking residents for their ideas on policies and enforcement to prevent crashes and educate families on micromobility device safety, he said.
“Nobody is even restricting anything at this point,” he said. “But if we are going to have a logical discussion about safety, education, usability, town response, and maybe concepts like enforcement or policy, we have to start somewhere. That's what I'm trying to do.”
Governor Maura Healey recently filed legislation to “strengthen public safety regulations” of electronic bikes, mopeds and scooters. While the legislation could take years to move through state government, Afanasenko advocated for Scituate to be proactive in setting its own town-level regulations.
“I feel strongly that we have an opportunity as a town to be a leader in this space as opposed to waiting and waiting for an accident to happen and having to respond to it,” he said.
But Select Board Vice Chair Susan Harrison said she felt that micromobility device regulation is “a state issue, not a town issue,” and Gilmore said that the town could craft its regulations in the future based on any state laws put into effect.
While the town has not tracked the number of e-bikes in use in Scituate, Select Board Member Jamie Gilmore estimated it to be in the 300 to 400 range, and Afanasenko said that he has noticed use among teens increasing “exponentially.” Gilmore floated the idea of conducting a survey on teen e-bike use through the schools.
Besides safety concerns, Afanasenko said that residents have complained to the Recreation Department that e-bike use at the skate park intimidates younger children, and Scituate High School reported damage to its grass caused by e-bikes. The town does plan to install signs at the high school announcing that bikes are not allowed, Town Administrator James Boudreau said.
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