New laws could be potential speedbumps for scooters, bikes

ATLANTA (AP) - New laws being considered at the Georgia state Capitol would regulate electric bikes and scooters in the state.

The machines are also the focus of new rules in some local communities, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

One bills proposed in the General Assembly would ban users from parking the devices on sidewalks and in other places where they could obstruct pedestrians, cars and trucks.

A separate proposal would allow electric bikes capable of traveling no more than 20 mph (32 kph) to use bike paths, but it would ban faster ones from those paths.

The proposed state regulations are being considered as some Georgia cities and counties are attempting to reign in electric scooters and bikes.

Critics say the devices are endangering the people who ride them, as well as pedestrians. Supporters say they’re useful for people who use them for short trips.

“All this technology has come out over the last few months,” said state Rep. Kevin Tanner, a Dawsonville Republican. “This may be something we’ll need to address on a regular basis.”

Bird, Lime, Lyft and Uber are among the companies which have deployed the devices. Customers rent them through phone apps.

In Atlanta, the city council in January approved rules requiring scooters to be parked upright on sidewalks to give pedestrians room to get by.

In Marietta, just northwest of Atlanta, the city recently banned scooters. Another Atlanta suburb, Decatur, has heavily regulated electric scooters.

Neither of the two bills proposed during the legislative session would pre-empt local regulations, the Atlanta newspaper reported.

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Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com