Morganton bans riding scooters and more on downtown sidewalks, places citywide regulations

In an effort to make Morganton’s sidewalks, greenways, and parks safer for pedestrians, city council passed a new ordinance that restricts the use of electric bikes, scooters, and other devices, especially in the downtown area, and outlines enforcement.

The new regulations establish a strict safety zone in the city’s high-traffic pedestrian areas, prohibiting e-bikes and personal conveyance vehicles (hoverboards, electric standup scooters, skateboards, and more) from being operated on sidewalks within the Central Business District and the Downtown Morganton Social District, City Attorney Keith Rigsbee said. Devices must be pushed or carried in those areas.

Outside of downtown, riders can use standard bicycles, Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes, which reach up to 20 mph, or personal conveyance vehicles, such as electric standup scooters, hoverboards, and skateboards. The ordinance bans high-speed Class 3 e-bikes, which can reach 28 mph, from all public sidewalks, park paths, and greenways.

In the permitted areas, the speed limit will be 15 mph, Rigsbee noted. Riders are required to yield to pedestrians, provide an audible signal before passing, and operate in single file and stay to the right, except when passing. The new restrictions also prohibit riders from leading or towing leashed animals while in motion.

Restrictions remain the same in parks where wheeled or motor vehicles have been previously prohibited. Those parks include Freedom Park’s paved walking path, Martha’s Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Drexel Heritage Park, Bethel Park, or in areas of any city parks where use is prohibited by signage or designation of the city.

Minors under 16 years old are required to wear protective helmets and legal responsibility will be placed on parents or guardians for compliance. Penalties for not following regulations include civil citations of up to $500 and potential device impoundment.

Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Fish said there has been an increase in motorized bikes and scooters recently in Morganton, specifically on downtown sidewalks and the greenway. He added that several other cities and towns have been grappling with how to handle the issue, even noting that the topic drew attention from state leaders.

“We see a lot of the e-scooters around the rec center and downtown; you’ve got these 14, 15, 16-year-olds flying, not just on sidewalks, but in streets, and they’re not wearing helmets or any protective gear,” Fish said.

Councilman Chris Jernigan said he’s been downtown many times and has seen scooters flying up and down the sidewalks, creating an unsafe environment for those in the area.

“I actually saw one catch the leash of a puppy one night, and I mean it’s just so dangerous how fast they’re riding those scooters around,” Jernigan said. “It’s time to do something.”

Councilwoman Molly McKay, who is a downtown resident, said she’s almost been hit taking a step outside her front door, adding that she believes it’s important that the city have the enforcement mechanism and require the safety equipment for riders.

“Of course, the person like me who would have been run over would have not had any safety equipment on,” McKay said. “We’d have just been splattered on the sidewalk. So, I think this is something that has been well thought out, and I certainly understand the concerns about the greenway, but I think we need to move forward with this for the safety of the city as a whole and our residents.”

Rigsbee, who spent months working on the ordinance, said he was following N.C. House Bill 1094, which passed and specifically authorizes municipalities to regulate the operation of e-bikes on multi-use paths and sidewalks. The legislation also established a three-tier classification system for e-bikes based on motor engagement and maximum assist speed of the e-bikes.

“We’ve tried to be as comprehensive as we can, realizing that you can’t plan for everything,” Rigsbee said. “We hope this ordinance strikes a good balance between differing ideas and thoughts on what should be done.”

Though the changes are effective immediately, Fish noted that signage will be installed throughout the city to make sure people are aware of the new regulations.

Councilman Butch McSwain, who was studying parks and recreation administration in the 1960s, said that in the 1970s, greenways were starting to boom because they give people a safe environment to get out, exercise, and enjoy nature. He opposed the changes because they still allow for some motorized vehicles on the greenway.

“Because of my background and 60 years of thinking like this, I just can’t support the idea of motorized vehicles on greenways, other than ADA-compliant reasons,” McSwain said.