ST. MARYS, Ohio (WLIO) – St. Marys City Council is considering legislation that would require minors to wear helmets while riding a bicycle, electric bicycle, or any low-speed micro-mobility device.
The proposed ordinance went before council Monday night for a second reading and will advance to a third reading at the next meeting. According to St. Marys Mayor Joe Hurlburt, the issue was reviewed by the Streets and Sidewalks Committee after complaints were received about children not following traffic laws and being distracted while riding. The city has also noted an increase in bicycle and e-bike use. Mayor Hurlburt said the city wants to take a proactive approach to keeping St. Marys’ youth safe.
"As a city, our philosophy is we want to be proactive instead of reactive. We don't want somebody to get hit or killed on one of these devices, and all of a sudden, we jump into action. We want to be proactive, and so, this is one of the reasons why we're starting to take steps to implement this process," says Mayor Joe Hurlburt, City of St. Marys.
If the ordinance passes, the city has already outlined consequences for violations. The first offense would result in a verbal warning, the second offense would carry a monetary fine, and the third offense would allow law enforcement to confiscate the device for a period of time.
