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STEUBENVILLE -- City Council members made it clear at Tuesday's meeting they're not ready to see electric scooters on city streets or sidewalks.
A young entrepreneur operating a scooter rental business in Wheeling had pitched the idea to council during a committee meeting last month. When the topic was revisited at last week's meeting, council members made it clear that while they applauded his initiative, they had serious safety, liability and logistical concerns.
"We have enough concerns we think this may not be the right time for us to look at this," Sixth Ward Councilman Mike Hernon said.
"There might be a time when it would be a good fit," Law Director Costa Mastros said. "We can revisit this later."
Council voiced concern that riders would either have to travel over narrow, bumpy sidewalks or in city streets, which are also narrow and lined with parked cars.
City Manager Jim Mavromatis said scooters would put pedestrians and riders at risk on sidewalks, and without bike lanes they'd also be at risk in the streets. He pointed out Steubenville's terrain is hilly.
Mavromatis said they couldn't sponsor the service because it would open Steubenville to liability.
"It has worked in a lot of areas, but those areas are a lot different than the city of Steubenville," he said.
Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo said he likes the idea, just not now.
"As we move forward with the bike trails, I think that would be perfect," Mayo said. "Trails are for bikes, scooters are bikes. They could ride on that trail."
Third Ward Councilwoman Heather Hoover also voiced concern that young children unfamiliar with the rules of the road or operating a mechanized vehicle might have access to a family member's bank card and hop on one, then get hurt.
"There are five of us sitting in this room and (he) isn't here," Second Ward Councilman Tracy McManamon said. "I'm a little worried about his responsibility, a little worried about his maturity and a lot worried about him saying (in August) he has the best attorneys in America working for him. I think he's a little too young for me to say let's do it. I completely agree with you, Royal, once we have the bike trail it would be nice ... you could connect the university to the downtown area for those kids who don't have transportation. I think it's too early, he's too young. I don't want to put my safety concerns in the hands of a 19-year-old."
Hernon said he loved the "entrepreneurial" aspect of the scooter proposal, "I love a young guy trying to make a buck and serve people."
"But I have more concerns than we have answers," he said. "I haven't heard from people saying, 'If only we had electric bikes in town.'"
Council reappointed John Westling and Michael Reed to the Board of Zoning Appeals, and Kelly Hermon to the park and recreation board.