Dear Residents of Erlanger,
It is with my great pleasure to inform you that our General Government Department and Department of Public Safety have been working diligently on a plan that will address safety concerns regarding e-scooter usage within the City. Our elected officials and staff have heard your worries regarding the ways in which scooters are used, predominantly by our younger residents, within the city on major roadways and on pedestrian sidewalks. Our team has created a comprehensive plan that helps to inform families within our community the laws regarding scooters and our recommendations as a city that help to keep everyone safe.
This plan and the recommendations were created with all residents in mind with the overall goal that easily adapted changes could be made by owners of scooters as well as family members or neighbors who interact with an e-scooter user. It is imperative that our entire community recognizes the importance of these recommendations since they impact all of us. As a team, it is our duty to protect all residents within Erlanger and our community.
Within this plan, I would like to call out a few elements that you will see in-action soon. We have released a proclamation that declares the first week of November as “Road Safety Week” within the City of Erlanger. While this messaging is aimed at scooter usage, this is a week in which all residents can reflect on their driving habits and ways they can make roadways safer within the city limits. Each year, we will celebrate this week across our channels and ensure that all residents keep this important messaging at the forefront of their minds.
Our team is working with Erlanger-Elsmere, Kenton County and St. Henry High School to promote the messaging we are creating on school-owned channels and ensure our recommendations are making it to the main scooter users, students. This includes messaging in school newsletters, websites, and on their social media channels, as well as building community-focused events that showcase proper e-scooter usage.
We will also be working closely with Brain Injury Alliance NKY to host a helmet giveaway event at the City Building. The event information will be released at a later date, so we encourage everyone to follow our social media channels to stay updated.
Finally, our team will be creating social media videos that focus on how people can safely ride scooters as well as installing signage on heavily trafficked sidewalks where scooters are frequently seen.
As we start to see fall beginning and the colder weather is rolling in, it is even more important that scooter users follow state laws and recommendations from our city during adverse weather conditions that will impact the quality of the roads and sidewalks being driven on. These recommendations are:
- Wear a Helmet.
- Phones Down!
- Obey All Traffic Laws.
- Follow Posted Speed Limits.
- Do Not Drive Impaired.
- One Rider per Bike.
- Yield Right of Way to Pedestrians.
- Ride in Bike Lane if Available.
As your Mayor, it is my priority to ensure the safety and security of the residents of Erlanger. We hope this plan and our additional efforts will help to foster these feelings within our community.
Mayor Jessica Fette, City of Erlanger
The official letter can be viewed here.