THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	76
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU PROHIBIT ELECTRIC SCOOTERS, ELECTRIC BICYCLES, AND ELECTRIC TRIKES ON SIDEWALKS.

 

 

        WHEREAS, electric scooters, electric bicycles, and three-wheeled electric trikes have become widely available for personal transportation, are very popular with commercial tour operators, and are often ridden on Oahu's sidewalks where they mix with pedestrians and motorists; and

 

        WHEREAS, while electric scooters, electric bicycles, and electric trikes are convenient, affordable, and more environmentally   friendly than automobiles, they are a safety hazard when ridden on sidewalks; and

 

        WHEREAS, electric scooters, electric bicycles, and electric trikes can weigh more than forty pounds and can be modified to allow the devices to reach speeds of eighteen miles per hour, which is nearly six times faster than the average walking speed of a person; and

 

        WHEREAS, electric scooters, electric bicycles, and electric trikes can seriously injure or kill pedestrians in a collision and operators of these devices are at risk from motorists who do not expect a small, quiet, and fast   moving motorized device to appear in pedestrian rights-of   way; and

 

        WHEREAS, the Legislature passed Act 180, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003 (Act 180), which defines an "electric personal assistive mobility device" as a self-balancing, two   wheeled, non   tandem   wheeled device, designed to transport only one person, using an electric propulsion system that limits the maximum speed of the device to twelve and one   half miles per hour or less; and

 

        WHEREAS, Act 180 states that unless otherwise prohibited or regulated by a county ordinance, electric personal assistive mobility devices may be operated on sidewalks at a speed no greater than eight miles per hour and on bicycle paths in the State; and

 

        WHEREAS, in the absence of county regulations, many electric scooters and electric bicycles are allowed on sidewalks and bike paths as electric personal assistive mobility devices and, although three   wheeled electric trikes do not necessarily fall within this definition, they are frequently used by individuals and tour operators on pedestrian paths; and

 

        WHEREAS, within the past several years, pedestrians and motorists have expressed safety concerns to policymakers about the increasing number of individuals and tour operators riding electric scooters, electric bicycles, and electric trikes on sidewalks and bike paths; and

 

        WHEREAS, because of safety risks to pedestrians, motorists, and operators of electric scooters, electric bicycles, and electric trikes, these devices should be prohibited on sidewalks and bike paths; and

 

        WHEREAS, policymakers must balance the advantages of useful, emerging mobility device technology with public safety, particularly in crowded transportation environments such as Oahu's business districts and urban core; now, therefore,

 

        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, the House of Representatives concurring, that the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, and Department of Transportation are requested to work with the Honolulu City Council to prohibit the operation of electric scooters, electric bicycles, and electric trikes on sidewalks through county   level ordinances; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations for regulation of electric scooters, electric bicycles, and electric trikes, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2022; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Chairperson of the Honolulu City Council, Chief of the Honolulu Police Department, and Director of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:  

Electric Scooters, Electric Bicycles, Electric Trikes, Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices, HPD, DOT, DTS, Sidewalks