On November 4th, Derry Township released a clarifying statement about the laws and regulations of E-scooters and E-bikes.

Electric bikes and scooters have continued to increase in popularity among kids, especially in Hershey. Kids are using them as their main form of transportation to school or even just to get around town.

The laws surrounding the vehicles have been in place for a while, but due to the police’s recent concern with safety around town, they decided to publish an outline of the specific regulations regarding the vehicles.

The new rules say you must be at least 16 years of age to operate an E-Bike. You can use them on the sidewalks, except for the main downtown strip; however, they may not be used on public roads.

As for the E-scooters, which are probably the most popular, riders are no longer allowed to use them on sidewalks, as they are considered dangerous to pedestrians. They are also not prohibited on public roads; they are considered a motor vehicle, but they lack mirrors and blinkers. So realistically, riders can no longer use the scooters anywhere in town.

The police are ready to start enforcing these new rules and highly encourage parents to inform their children of these changes, as well as to encourage their kids to comply with the new rules and law enforcement.