NORTH PROVIDENCE – Joining a growing number of communities with concerns about how e-bikes are being driven on local roads with no real rules on them, town officials are set to begin discussions on the issue.
Town Councilor Steve DiLorenzo told The Local Insider Tuesday that he thinks it’s time to start the conversation, as the electronic bikes are now prevalent everywhere. It’s not an issue specific to any one part of town, he emphasized, but all over.
DiLorenzo has invited Lt. Kevin Guindon, North Providence’s community police officer, to Wednesday’s Town Council meeting, where the officer will be asked to spell out his extensive information related to incidents involving e-bikes in town.
DiLorenzo said he doesn’t see a conclusive answer yet on what the town should do, but the conversations need to start now. Whether someone is 15 years old or 25 years old, they shouldn’t be able to just buy an unlicensed motorized bike and be able to drive it anywhere in town, he said. He said he’s been getting more and more calls on the issue.
Mayor Charles Lombardi, the town’s public safety director, agreed that it’s an issue and something needs to be done.
“I support a discussion on it,” he said, adding that he too wants to hear ideas from the Police Department.
In many cases, he said, riders are going faster than vehicles, especially those stuck in traffic. He said is someone is going faster than 20 mph, his feeling is that their bike needs to be registered.
Lombardi said they were having a major issue with riders at Camp Meehan before police stepped in, and officers still have to continuously monitor to prevent the issue from returning.
On Oct. 18, The Local Insider reported on neighboring Lincoln considering new rules on e-bikes. That followed up a story on North Smithfield doing the same.
Lincoln Town Administrator Phil Gould said a big question his town must answer is how to effectively deter e-bike use with young people, and he said the likely answer is to penalize their parents financially.
