The Abington Township Board of Commissioners voted on Thursday to advance a proposed ban on electric vehicles from township park systems, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“The Board of Commissioners has determined that the Code of the Township of Abington should be amended at Chapter 158 [Vehicles, Recreational] at Sections 2 [Purpose] Section 3 [Definitions] and Section 4 [Prohibited Acts] to amend the regulations for the use of electric bicycles and electric scooters within the Township parks and trail systems for the peace, good government, health and welfare of the Township and its residents”, the July 9 commissioners meeting agenda says.

It continues:

The purpose of this chapter is to protect the health, safety and well-being of the citizens of Abington Township by regulating the use of ATVs, dirt bikes and other motorized recreational vehicles on the roadways, trafficways and public property on the Township. and further regulating the use of E-Bikes and E-Scooters in Township owned parks and trail systems.

The ban would not apply to electrified vehicles designed for people with disabilities, and would not cover county-owned sites such as Lorimer Park. Abington’s commissioners have 60 days to finalize the ban once it’s advertised, The Inquirer said.

“The use of e-bikes and other electric modes of transportation has increased significantly, leading to a rise in related incidents. As crashes become more frequent, questions continue to emerge regarding the legality of operating these devices on public roadways,” the Abington Township Police Department posted on Thursday.

“I’ve been trying to think of some kind of workable compromise that accommodates all parties’ concerns while ultimately protecting the folks in our parks and on our trails, including young kids, from injury,” commissioner John Spiegelman told The Inquirer.

The ordinance can be found on page 28 of the agenda below:

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