The Fort Madison City Council has already been working through the details of a proposed open burning ordinance, but now they have added e-bikes and scooters to their list of recreational activities they are looking to regulate. The Daily Democrat reports that Fort Madison Police Chief Cody Potthast presented the Fort Madison City Council with a draft of a proposed ordinance that would regulate the use and operation of electric bikes, scooters, and similar equipment within city limits during the meeting on Tuesday. The City of Fort Madison also has existing laws in the book regulating bicycle use, but Potthast told the members of the council that the intent of the proposed ordinance is to get ahead of the technology as it continues to advance and to get city code in accordance with Iowa Code Chapter 321 (also known as the “Motor Vehicles and Law of the Road” chapter, which regulates vehicle registration, licensing, safety, and traffic rules). The members of the council had a thorough discussion with Potthast about the proposal and how it would be implemented before pledging to bring the ordinance up for more discussion or a vote at a meeting sometime in the future.
