Hilliard's new e-bike and scooter safety law takes effect Sept. 23, bringing helmet requirements, parental liability and police impound authority to the city's streets and paths.

Hilliard City Council unanimously approved the ordinance 6-0 at its Aug. 24 meeting, with Councilwoman Cynthia Vermillion absent. The rules apply to bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters and other low-speed mobility devices.

Here is what changes for riders and families.

Helmets for minors: All riders under 18 must wear a helmet while operating any covered device.

Parental liability: Parents or guardians whose children recklessly violate the regulations could face a minor misdemeanor on a first offense. Subsequent violations within a year could escalate to fourth-degree and third-degree misdemeanor charges.

Law Director Thad Boggs explained that "recklessly" was chosen deliberately, placing the legal standard below "purposefully" and "knowingly" but above "negligently" on the scale of criminal culpability.

Class 3 e-bike restrictions: Class 3 e-bikes, which can reach 28 mph, are prohibited on bike paths and shared-use paths. Exceptions apply when a path runs adjacent to a vehicular roadway or the city passes separate legislation authorizing use on a specific path.

Impound authority: The Hilliard Division of Police can now impound e-bikes, scooters and other devices involved in traffic-code violations.

The ordinance followed significant resident feedback about children riding e-bikes and scooters around the city, according to the city's announcement. Earlier in summer 2026, the city posted signs at Hilliard's Station Park directing riders to keep motorized devices on adjacent bike paths rather than inside the park.

"This ordinance is only step one," City Manager Josh Rauch said at the Aug. 24 council meeting, as reported by the Hilliard Beacon. Councilman Andy Teater said at the same meeting that the law does not go far enough.

Rauch said the city plans to host a community forum, likely in October, to gather more feedback and shape follow-up regulations. The city is also continuing to work with Hilliard City Schools on student safety education, though no specific program details have been announced.

Separately, state Reps. Kevin Miller, R-Newark, and Andrea White, R-Kettering, introduced House Bill 948 on June 1. The bill would require driver's education courses to cover sharing roads with e-bike riders and mandate that retailers provide safety leaflets to buyers. Its current status in the Ohio House is unclear.

Riders can find local rules and safety tips on the city's Ride Safely page. E-bikes without manufacturer stickers verifying class, wattage and top speed are not legal on public streets, paths or parks under Chapter 373 of the city code.