Special Bd. of Aldermen — 06-25-2019 Page 9
So we don’t require a Driver’s License and that’s s one of the benefits of this program is to give transportation
options to those that may not have them. So as far as regulating operation of these at a State Level, that hasn’t
come up yet.
Alderman Tencza
And if | may just follow up. | guess I’m not concerned about regulating them at the State Level, I’m worried about
whether people need to know that they need to have a license or a moped license in order to hop on one, |
guess that is something that they would have to determine for themselves.
Alderman Jette
So | mean this with all due respect, but when | hear you talk about things across multiple states and you don't,
maybe I’m wrong, but you don’t seem to have a very detailed knowledge of the laws of this State. You are a big
company, I’m sure you have high paid lawyers at your beck and call who could advise you about this and
maybe our Corporation Counsel can help us. But | am wondering whether or not we need to adopt some
legislation to regulate these things. | look at our present ordinance and just quickly, but | look at it and it appears
that this thing is defined and comes within the definition of a motor vehicle. | am assuming without knowing, but
| am assuming that these things cannot legally go on the sidewalks. So how do you get it from the street on to
sidewalk to park seems technically like a violation. | don’t know if our Corporation Counsel has had a chance to
look at the local and state laws regarding these things or not.
But | am concerned about your rules are fine, but how are we going to enforce that if there are no laws that
specifically regulate these things. Our laws didn’t envision these things; these are brand new things. | am
concerned about people riding them on the sidewalks. You know the bicycles are not supposed to be ridden on
the sidewalks but they are. These things seem like a potential hazard. | am not trying to throw a wet rag over
what might be a very good thing, but | am wondering whether this has been properly vetted. And if | could
through you Madam President, ask our Corporation Counsel whether he has had a chance to look into this or
not?
*Steve Bolton, Corporation Counsel
| have not been asked to look at this prior to tonight; | will look at it. But as you point out, the bicycles are being
ridden on the sidewalk all the time, as are skateboards and other things, happily not cars very often. Not much
is done to control the fact that bicycles and skateboards and other things are being operated on the sidewalks
although technically they ought not to be. | think this is a motor vehicle, unless | am mistaken and that will
certainly will be one of the things | check into. So if someone has their license to drive, revoked or suspended, |
don’t think they are going to be operating this either. Non-motorized bicycles | think are not motor vehicles
because they don’t have a motor so that is in a different category. But! have not specifically reviewed the ins
and outs of all legislation and frankly | would prefer that the private company who makes money on this devotes
the time of their lawyer to it. That might be something to think about as well.
President Wilshire
Alderman Jette are you all set?
