The Abington Township Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Thursday, August 27, during which officials will consider for adoption an ordinance to prohibit the use and operation of electric bicycles and electric scooters in township parks.

A vote to advance the proposal took place in July. The ban would not apply to electrified vehicles designed for people with disabilities, and would not cover county-owned sites such as Lorimer Park, officials 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 in July.

The proposed ordinance “has been drafted for the health, welfare, and safety of the residents of Abington Township,” the announcement said. It amends the township’s Code of Ordinances’ Chapter 158 – “Vehicles, Recreational,” at Section 2 – “Purpose,” Section 3 – “Definitions” and Section 4 – “Prohibited Acts”.

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

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