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MAYVILLE - A county lawmaker wants to see high school students educated on the rules and regulations of electrical bikes and scooters.
Legislator Fred Larson, D-Jamestown, has introduced a resolution titled "Requesting Law Enforcement Education Program on E-bikes and E-scooters in Chautauqua County High Schools."
The resolution proposes that all 17 high schools in Chautauqua County make one hour of time available in the Spring of 2027 for law enforcement personnel to educate their students on the laws and rules of using e-bikes and e-scooters, thereby protecting their students and the public.
The resolution will go before the full Chautauqua County Legislature for a vote at its next meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The Proposed resolution was discussed at the legislature's Public Safety Committee meeting.
It calls for among the Sheriff's Office, local police departments, state police, and/or School Resource Officers to go into each high school school district in the county with an educational program on the laws and rules surrounding the operation of e-bikes and e-scooters.
Larson is a retired city court judge. He said during his tenure, ebikes were not an issue like they are today. "I honestly don't remember a single vehicle and traffic ticket in Jamestown City Court through 2021 that had anything to do with (e-bikes). I don't even know if I knew what an e-bike or e-scooter was in 2021," he said .
Larson called the situation now the "wild west" when it comes to enforcing e-bikes and e-scooters, arguing there is little oversight or education.
Larson said he worked with Sheriff Jim Quattrone when he drafted the legislation and has the sheriff's support. They felt it would be best to start with education.
"From the sheriff’s point of view, there are no budgetary implications at all," Larson said. "Many of these high schools have school resource officers already in them, so there’s plenty of resources with a badge in a uniform that can stand in front of an assembly of high school kids and lay down the law in a professional authoritative way."
Common issues Larson cited include e-bikes riding on sidewalks, running stop signs or going the wrong way on a one-way street.
During the discussion, Legislator Marty Proctor, R-Mina, asked about educating adults with e-bike and e-school regulations.
Larson suggested the county’s public relations specialist could work with the Sheriff's Office to produce a brochure which could be sent home with students and they could share it with their families.
Larson agreed that this may not be enough but at least it's a good first step in e-bike safety. "The state legislature's got to help us, but the Lord helps those who help themselves. In this, the county has full authority to do so, so let's start with what we can control," he said.
The Public Safety unanimously approved the resolution, which allows the full legislature to vote on it.