Scott Axelson discusses concerns with the Jamestown city council during Monday’s voting session about E-Bike safety in the city. Screenshot courtesy of the City of Jamestown’s website

Concerns in regards to the safety of electric bicycles and other similar forms of transportation in the city have again come before the Jamestown city council.

During Monday’s voting session, Jamestown resident Scott Axelson said he had multiple incidents over the last few days of having to avoid kids and younger people riding motorcycles and electric bikes unsafely in the city, including blowing through stop signs, stoplights and not acknowledging right-of-ways.

“The E-Bike, E-Scooter situation is out of control,” Axelson said. “I’m in the city driving around all of the time. I am so worried to hit somebody, because it’s my liability, but we’re doing nothing to work to try to make changes to make these riders understand the right-of-ways because a lot of these E-Bikes are going as fast as motorcycles, 30 miles an hour speed limit.”

Axelson said his concern was that it was going to take someone getting killed before someone takes the time to look at the real problem. His concerns involved three incidents in the last 36 hours that he had personally, and that now that summer has begun he said there will be more people not paying attention and the drivers will suffer because of it.

City development director, Crystal Surdyk, said the city does have a Safe Streets For All grant to use and that this issue is something they will be looking at as they proceed with that, with plans for a kickoff to the grant sometime in August. Council President Tony Dolce asked if E-Bikes have the same rules to follow as other bicycles on the road, and Corporation Counsel Elliot Raimondo said it is something he has been discussing with Police Chief Timothy Jackson.

“Obviously unlicensed motorized vehicles on the roadway are illegal,” Raimondo said. “Bicycles though, are not.”

Jackson added that it depends on the size, capability and speed that the bicycles can do.

“It’s a problem … but they have to follow the rules of the road just like any other bicyclist or motorcyclist would have to,” Dolce said.

It was also noted that motorists under 18 years old are required to wear a helmet on E-Bikes.