Storm Lake’s proposed electric bike and scooter ordinance is getting a second chance — but a controversial helmet requirement won’t be coming along for the ride.
After months of debate and a failed vote in September, the Storm Lake City Council reached a compromise during a work session Monday evening, agreeing to eliminate a proposed helmet mandate for riders under age 18 in hopes of finally moving the ordinance forward.
The decision follows a 2-2 vote Sept. 8 that defeated the original proposal, which would establish new safety regulations for traditional bicycles, e-bikes, e-scooters and other personal mobility devices on city streets, sidewalks, trails and in parks.
The helmet requirement has been among the biggest sticking points, with council members divided over whether the city should mandate something Iowa law does not require.
Council member Don Piercy Jr. said he wants his grandchildren wearing helmets but worries enforcement could create negative interactions between children and police officers — potentially undermining the trust the department has worked to build.
Piercy also argued that parents should take responsibility for helmet use and that education could be more effective than fines.
Police Chief Chris Cole acknowledged that officers could have difficulty determining whether a rider is under 18, particularly because children don’t always carry identification. He said he would prefer not to issue citations to children solely for failing to wear helmets.
Council member Maggie Martinez, one of the ordinance’s strongest supporters, reluctantly agreed to remove the requirement rather than risk another defeat.
Despite that concession, Martinez stressed the urgency of adopting regulations before next spring, when warmer weather will bring more riders back onto the streets and trails.
Cole said the ordinance is about much more than helmets. He explained that the department’s primary concerns involve reckless riding, multiple passengers on devices designed for one person, operating without lights after dark and riding in areas where people are trying to enjoy recreational activities. He said the proposal would give officers additional authority to intervene before dangerous behavior leads to injuries.
The safety concerns aren’t hypothetical. In May, a child riding a scooter was injured after police say the child failed to stop at a stop sign near East 10th Street and Oneida Street and entered the path of an oncoming vehicle. Police have also reported increasing complaints about near misses, unsafe speeds and riders disregarding traffic rules.
Under the revised proposal, riders would still have to obey traffic signals, yield to pedestrians, use proper lighting after dark and operate at reasonable and prudent speeds. The ordinance also establishes a maximum of 20 miles per hour where no lower speed limit applies, while requiring riders to slow down when conditions warrant. It would prohibit high-powered electric mobility devices on city streets, sidewalks and trails, restrict riding in certain recreational areas and retain Iowa’s prohibition on children under age 16 operating Class 3 e-bikes.
The proposal also maintains civil penalties of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second and $300 for subsequent violations, along with provisions for parental responsibility and impounding devices.
During Monday’s discussion, council members considered requiring warnings for first-time offenders, but Cole argued officers need discretion to determine when education is sufficient and when a violation warrants a ticket.
Cole said officers would generally take an educational approach, but some circumstances require immediate consequences.
By the end of the work session, the council had directed staff to remove the helmet mandate while leaving the other provisions unchanged.
City officials plan to return Nov. 16 to formally schedule another public hearing for Dec. 7, restarting the approval process.
