Millcreek Township will research electric bike ordinances, hear resident concerns

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

Following public comment on electronic bicycles and scooters, Millcreek Township supervisors on Sept. 9 authorized solicitor Andrew Morrow of Spitler, Kilgore & Enck, PC Law Firm, to research sample ordinances.

“We’re starting to look into it now,” Morrow said.

Millcreek does not have an ordinance in place, but the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code does have regulations on e-bikes. The vehicle code defines an e-bike as a “pedalcycle with electrical assist.” 

State law requires operators to be at least 16 years of age and to travel at a maximum speed of 20 mph. To comply, an electric bike must weigh no more than 100 pounds and have two or three wheels more than 11 inches in diameter. 

It must be manufactured or assembled with a 750-watt electric motor system. The term does not apply to devices designed to be used by people with disabilities.

Morrow said he understands Lebanon City Council is in the process of drafting an e-bike ordinance. He said his hope is to find ordinances within the area to reference and review with chief of police Terry Katzaman and township officials for the township to draft its own version. 

“This seems to be very, very significant what they’re looking to do here,” Morrow said of the proposed city ordinance. 

Katzaman suggested drafting an ordinance, recommending the township consider one for electric-powered vehicles last month.

“The problem is it’s new technology, and there’s nothing to push through the state Legislature to make laws to prohibit it yet,” supervisor Adam Saul said.

The board’s authorization for Morrow came as the township continues to hear concerns from citizens. 

Resident Lowell Hartzell of 18 East Bethany Road said the e-bike issue is getting worse. He said he submitted a video to the police department of seven e-bikes on Sheridan Road. He said more kids have them than half a year ago. 

 “I’m seeing more of them,” Hartzell said. 

Another East Bethany Road resident, Molly Kegerise, said she walks there almost every day and sees e-bikes going past her and other pedestrians.

“It’s bad,” Kegerise said. “The noise that they bring to our residences is terrible.”

She said she walks every night after work, when juveniles begin riding their e-bikes since it’s after school. She also said the e-bikes are also riding the mountain near a watershed on Fort Zellers Road.

“Those e-bikes are bold,” Kegerise said. “They go by me and pop wheelies.”

Both residents said in their encounters, when they videotape, they have received middle-finger gestures from riders. 

“You live there, you see this constant,” Kegerise said. “I feel like the word’s out, it’s entertainment.”

In response, Katzaman said Millcreek police have received multiple complaints about e-bikes in other areas of the township, such as Newburg Village, Main Street, and East Bethany Road. He said the police have begun talking to children and their parents.

“We’ve been making a lot of contact with these kids on e-bikes,” Katzaman said.

He said police do attempt to stop people and children on e-bikes. The children operating the bikes have run away from police, and he said they have to be cautious for liability reasons if a juvenile operator crashes or is struck by a vehicle. He also said the youngest child police have encountered was 10 years old.

“I’ve been working with Andy, and the board and hopefully, we’re going to look at ordinances to address some of these things,” Katzaman said.

Supervisors voted unanimously to: 

• Appoint former supervisor Dan Hogeland to the planning commission. Planning commission chair Craig Thompson said Leon Ziegler’s term expires this year. He also said Hogeland has attended planning commission meetings for the past year and a half, and said Hogeland’s prior experience as a township supervisor is an asset for the planning commission.
• Approve a land development plan for Fox Masonry to construct a 10,080 square-foot concrete tractor shop at 243 S. Sheridan Road. Chair Eric Weidman said the site is on the west side of South Sheridan Road south of the Newburg Drive intersection. He also said there will be public utility connections for water and sewer.
• Purchase a Grapple skid steer for $2,000 from TLS Equipment. 
• Approve Trick-or-Treat Night to be held on Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. 
• Authorize Newmanstown Fire Company Fire Police to assist Myerstown Borough with the holiday parade on Nov. 28.