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WELLSVILLE -- Mayor Bob Boley told council members Tuesday he fears it's a matter of time before a child gets hit while riding electric scooters on the main roads.
"I see kids, two or three of them on a scooter with a kid who's maybe 2 years old on the front; it's going to happen, and I would hate to have that on my conscience," Boley said. "I would like to see something done."
Police Lt. Marsha Eisenhart said it's not often the department gets any complaints of them and the village's ordinance says they are supposed to be ridden in the road and not only the sidewalk, but they do try to get the juveniles to go on the sidewalk because of crazy drivers.
Boley said the ordinance applies to bicycles, and there is nothing about the electric scooters there.
Village Solicitor Chris Weeda said courts are actively trying to define electric scooters because Wellsville isn't the only village having this issue. Certain places are trying to define through case law whether certain scooters should be classified as a bike, but it's a little blurry at this point.
When Boley asked if anyone wanted to chime in with their thoughts, a resident said she sees juveniles riding to school right down Broadway Street, two to three of them on a scooter right in front of cars, and they will not move even though cars are close. She also noted it is not just juveniles but adults doing it as well.
Another resident said she has almost been hit by juveniles on scooters while walking down her steps, and they just come flying by.
Boley said he doesn't want to see a juvenile get hit or killed, so the village has to make an ordinance or something.
Council Member Aaron Smith said maybe put an age limit that determines when they have to be on a bike on the sidewalk or allowed to ride on the road.
Council Member Mike Lombardozzi questioned if it would be similar to when he was a juvenile with a moped at the age of 14 and was required to have a license to ride since they are motorized and similar to a moped.
Smith said council should ask Weeda to look into the issue and see what they can do legally.
A resident suggested since the juveniles ride the scooters to and from school that the school should hold some kind of safety education regarding the electric bikes and scooters.
Former council member Bill Taft suggested looking into making it so a license is required to ride them like they were required with mopeds.
The Wellsville Village Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in council chambers. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 6.