Scranton City Council voted 5-0 to introduce two new ordinances that would ban electric bicycles and other motorized devices from city parks and from sidewalks in business districts, setting fines as high as $600 for violators. The proposal, pitched as a way to keep pedestrians safe, would push e-bikes off trails and onto city streets instead.
Council members unanimously introduced the two mayoral ordinances during their weekly meeting, according to thetimes-tribune.com. The measures would prohibit electric bicycles, motor-propelled scooters, skateboards and hoverboards in parks and on business-district sidewalks, though the vote only introduced the legislation rather than enacting it. The ordinances were expected to return to council at its next weekly meeting, scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, per the same outlet's reporting.
Under the proposal, e-bikes capable of exceeding 20 mph under motor power alone would be barred from city property altogether, and riders who are allowed to use the devices would be subject to existing state helmet rules and would need to yield to pedestrians. Fines for sidewalk violations in business districts would run $50 to $300, while violations in city parks could draw a maximum fine of $600 and costs — or up to 30 days behind bars if that fine goes unpaid, the report notes.
Who Would Be Exempt
The ordinances carve out exceptions for people with disabilities who rely on power-driven mobility devices, along with law enforcement, emergency responders and city employees performing official duties, per the same account. Bicycles and e-bikes would still be allowed on sidewalks outside business districts, and riders in business districts could use city streets and street bike lanes under the proposed operating conditions.
Scranton resident Mark Juice said e-bikes passing pedestrians could pose a danger, according to WNEP. Samantha Perry echoed that concern, saying fast-moving e-bikes may startle pedestrians, including people pushing babies in strollers, per the station's report. Erica Nealon went further, saying e-bikes should be banned from sidewalks entirely because pedestrians could be struck.
Not Everyone Agrees on the Fix
Not every resident who spoke up backed sidewalk bans as the solution. Some residents said the city instead needs more bike lanes to protect cyclists who would be pushed onto roads, the station reported. In Honesdale, Jake Mundy warned that banning e-bikes from sidewalks could actually cause more accidents, arguing that keeping them there might be safer. In Pine Grove, Tasha Lavas suggested the city remove a traffic lane to prevent cars from colliding with bicyclists, while in Old Forge, Christopher Estevez said the city should prioritize building out more bike lanes rather than restricting where riders can go.
Downtown resident and pedestrian Joan Hodowanitz told thetimes-tribune.com she supports the city taking action but said the parameters of a ban and its enforcement need to be spelled out more clearly. The requirement that e-bikes shift onto streets would only take effect if city council gives final approval to the ordinances, and Scranton police have a no-chase policy, according to WNEP.
A Park Ban Already in Place
The city has already moved on e-bikes in at least one green space. The Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority banned e-bikes at Nay Aug Park in September, ahead of the broader ordinances now before council. That ban prohibits electric bicycles and other motorized personal vehicles from operating on the park's grounds, roadways and pedestrian pathways, according to audacy.com.
Scranton would not be the first Pennsylvania municipality to restrict e-bikes on public property. Blakely Borough Council voted 6-0 in May to ban motorized bicycles, scooters and similar devices on all borough-owned property, with fines of up to $300 for violations, as reported by thetimes-tribune.com. Around Pittsburgh, at least seven surrounding municipalities have passed or are actively considering similar ordinances regulating e-bike use on municipally owned land, including parks and trails, according to Penn Capital-Star. Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park passed ordinances in June limiting e-bike use on municipal property and requiring helmets for riders under 21, the outlet reported.
Injuries and Fatalities Climbing Statewide
The push for regulation comes as e-bike injuries and deaths have surged across Pennsylvania. PennDOT data show e-bike rider injuries increased 40% statewide from 2024 to 2025, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. The same PennDOT figures show e-bike rider fatalities rose from two in 2024 to 12 in 2025.
Nationally, a 2025 study found e-bike-related injuries climbed nearly 91% from 2019 to 2022, Penn Capital-Star reported, as American consumers imported about 2.2 million e-bikes in 2025 alone. Pennsylvania also has statewide e-bike regulations. The statewide rise in injuries and fatalities, paired with Nay Aug Park's existing restrictions, has added weight to Scranton's push to formalize rules before the ordinances come back before council.
