After several months of discussion and research into other small-town policies, the Colwich City Council approved a set of rules to be written into a city ordinance to be approved at next month’s meeting. Discussions began this summer, when Police Chief Mark Hinkle, Council Member Bill Quaney and several other community members noticed an uptick in e-scooters and e-bikes driving in potentially dangerous ways. Speeding, lack of helmets, and riding on busy sidewalks are the largest issues Hinkle noted. Members of the council and city employees were hesitant to put an outright ban into effect, as many students use e-bikes and e-scooters as school transportation. The rules the council established are common-sense rules and based on similar regulations from neighboring small towns. The three rules the council set are a bike speed limit of 20 mph, riders 16 and under must wear a bicycle helmet, and sidewalks on Wichita Street are off-limits.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune