Upper Arlington officials are eyeing a pretty literal way to keep tabs on e-bikes, e-scooters and other small motorized rides: put a city sticker on them or keep them off public property. A draft ordinance would require privately owned devices that are not registered with the state to display a city-issued sticker before they can be ridden or parked on public property. City officials say the proposal is aimed at cutting down on unsafe riding and curbside clutter, and under the draft rules officers could immobilize or seize unregistered devices.
As reported by ABC6, City Council is set to start reviewing the proposal in June and, if it is approved this fall, the rules would kick in January 2027. The draft would require all motorized devices that are not already registered with the state to be registered with the Upper Arlington Police Division and to display the city sticker in order to operate or park on city property. Supporters argue the policy strikes a balance between "safety with personal freedom" while laying out a baseline of expectations for rider responsibility.
How the registration would work
The city's draft program, titled Proposed Mobility Device Registration & Safety Program, spells out two permit types. One is for devices primarily operated by people with a valid Ohio driver's license and the other is a larger, yellow permit for users who do not have a license. For licensed operators, registration would be free and could be completed either online or in person at the Upper Arlington Police desk. Applicants would have to provide a driver's license or a photo, the device make and model, and a signed affidavit limiting who is allowed to operate it.
Non-drivers would need to be named as authorized users and complete a free safety course run by the police in partnership with UA Parks & Rec, the schools and the public library. For minors, parents would also have to acknowledge that they reviewed the training materials and accept financial responsibility for any fines that might follow.
Enforcement and penalties
The draft does not mince words about what happens if riders skip the paperwork. "Failure to register a device can result in the device being seized or immobilized," it states, and it sets a $150 fine for repeat violations. Under the proposal, officers could immobilize devices with a city-owned lock or transport them to city facilities for storage. A second or later violation would require payment of the fine before the device is released.
The draft also makes clear that registration stickers would be required to operate or park on public property, including parks, schools, the library and the Bob Crane Community Center.
State law and the local patchwork
Ohio state law divides electric bicycles into three classes and already sets age and helmet rules for faster Class 3 bikes under the Ohio Revised Code.
