Editorial

E-vehicle ordinance timely

It is one of the marvels of modern life and capitalism that electronic vehicles have become a familiar part of the culture in such a short time. Scooters and bicycles, powered by batteries, can be seen daily traveling along the thoroughfares of West Haven – and everywhere else.

Residents, who otherwise would have no capability of getting cheap transportation, are able to travel and do their business at a cheap price. But with the new technology and convenience, there is a growing concern for some who are less responsible when it comes to prudent safety.

The proliferation of these types of vehicles, an up-ide for most users, has led to an inevitable down-side. Those using e-scooters or e-bikes are responsible individuals, looking out for their safety and the safety of others.

In a perfect world this would always be the case and would not require the passage of ordinances or fines to control the vehicles’ usage. With every innovation comes the necessity for some controls. Men are not angels, and there will always be those who look toward their own selfish needs over those of others.

There is no doubt with the convenience of the new technology has come a concomitant rise in reckless behavior by some. Speeding along sidewalks or numbers of e-bikes taking over streets is a rising problem. Most scooter users are conscious of pedestrians and move accordingly. Most bikers are in designated lanes or on the street, mindful of motorists and pedestrians, as well as traffic signs and signals.

Most are, but some are not, and something had to be done. The City Council’s recent passage of an ordinance to put some strictures on e-vehicles is welcome, and timely. The use of such technology will only grow as the prices come down, and people see the convenience.

The new ordinance restricts e-vehicles (that cannot otherwise be pedaled or walked) along the city’s bike/walk path from Sandy Point to the Charlotte Bacon playground. Signs have been installed alerting e-vehicle users of the new restrictions. More importantly to the public is the restrictions of speed to 10 miles per hour on sidewalks. This will, we hope, slow down users and make them more mindful of those around them.

The first violation carries with it a $100 fine, and subsequent offenses have the same $100 price tag.

As with most such ordinances, the fine serves as a deterrent to bad behavior, but it only works if the law is enforced. We are curious as to how this new enactment will be implemented by law enforcement. Time will tell whether it is an enforceable law, or just a “we had to do something” irrelevance.

The use of electronic technology is a good thing for those in need of quick, easy transport. It is a testament to the capitalist system that innovators produced something the public wants and serves a need. It is also true that with innovation comes abuse.

The new ordinance should, if implemented well, address those abuses, and protect the public.