December 23, 2025

Regulating e-Bikes and Scooters

Summit, NJ, is one of the many cities across North America grappling with the impact of e-bikes and scooters on downtown streets.

While some cities are considering outright bans, others are looking to regulation to improve safety and reduce sidewalk and street congestion.

These regulations typically include rules on speed limits, designated areas for riding, and age restrictions. Other important components are safety requirements such as helmet use and vehicle lighting, and registration and licensing for higher-powered models.

In Summit, the recently enacted ordinance addresses where e-bikes and scooters may be used and penalties for failure to follow the rules:

• Electric bikes and scooters are not allowed on any sidewalk or pedestrian pathway.
• These devices can only be operated on roadways where bicycles are legally permitted.
• Violating these rules may result in fines up to $500. In some cases, the device may be temporarily confiscated by police.

Information on Summit’s, new ordinance and other approaches to keeping downtown streets safe appear regularly in the pages of Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter.

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Recommended Reading

Signage and Wayfinding Design

Wayfinding signage is the voice of downtown. It invites visitors in. It suggests the experience to follow. And it guides all users to the best that the city center has to offer.

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It is organized around a three-part approach to understanding and designing wayfinding signage: Content, graphics, and hardware systems.

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This second edition of Signage and Wayfinding Design provides essential background, insights, and inspiration for everyone involved in wayfinding projects.

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Signage and Wayfinding Design is just one of the many books on Improving Parking & Access available from the Downtown Development Center.