Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates running for Westwood City Council to address leading up to the Nov. 4 election.
Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to Westwood residents.
Each day this week, we’re publishing the candidates’ responses to one question.
Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
Motorized scooters/bikes: Cities and businesses in Johnson County in recent months have started contending with the increasing use of motorized bikes and scooters, especially by children and teenagers. Some worry they pose a danger not only to the users but other pedestrians. How should the city deal with this increasingly popular mode of transportation by young people?
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on this issue:
At-Large
Stephanie Becker
The rise in motorized bikes and scooters has happened quickly, and I understand why many residents are concerned. They can create safety risks for riders, drivers, and pedestrians, especially when kids and teenagers don’t fully understand the rules of the road. As a parent, I share those concerns.
At the same time, these scooters have given kids more independence and helped them connect with friends beyond their immediate neighborhood. They’re probably here to stay, so rather than resist the change, we need to focus on managing it safely and responsibly.
Education and awareness will be key. Westwood should look at what nearby cities are doing, such as pairing basic registration with safety courses or enforcing speed limits, and consider what might make sense here.
The goal should be to keep everyone safe while adapting to new ways people get around. With community input, clear communication, and a focus on safety, we can find a balanced approach that works for Westwood.
Spencer Day
I believe there is a balance to be struck here. The rising popularity of E-bikes is bringing both teens and adults alternative means of transportation, reduced car traffic and greater access to the outdoors. However, We must make sure our police are enforcing existing traffic laws (eg careless driving, failure to stop, etc). Further, it appears some of these ‘e-bikes’ are may actually be regulated as motorcycles under state law and should only be operated by licensed individuals. I also believe a lot of responsibility rests with parents to make informed choices and the City may be able to do more ‘education’ around the topic. We must also address other hazards to pedestrians, particularly our many children that walk to and from school. We have many cars that drive too fast on streets with drivers distracted by cell phones. Safer, more walkable streets requires addressing not just e-bike users behaving badly but also car drivers behaving badly.
Jeff Harris (incumbent)
I have found over the years that public safety professionals approach issues like this from two points of view: enforcement to address and education to prevent.
In an October 9 City Council Work Session, Chief of Police Curt Mansell updated the council on several public safety topics, including motorized bikes and scooters. The Chief has been discussing this matter with neighboring chiefs for several months.
Regarding enforcement, he explained that existing state laws define various classes of vehicles (e-motorcycles, e-bikes, e-scooters), partly based on their top speed and on age restrictions. He further explained that our police department has what it needs to enforce these laws and no further action with respect to city code is recommended at this time.
Regarding education, I believe both motorized bike and scooter passengers, many of them teenagers and children, need education and so do their parents. Parents are responsible for the tools they allow their children to access and for the education they should receive to use those tools safely. There will be an article in our next quarterly newsletter to explain these various vehicles and the existing rules for their use. That article will also be shared with Westwood View Elementary as another effective channel to reach parents.
The city has partnered with Westwood View Elementary on education programs in the past; on October 8, students and parents had an opportunity to walk and bike from City Hall to school in a program that included a bicycle and scooter safety review.
Greg Hirleman
I love seeing kids outside playing with their siblings and friends, and It is a luxury to be confident in the safety that our community provides. However, the proliferation of scooters and e-bikes with kids of all sizes riding on the streets and sidewalks, some without helmets and some ignoring local traffic rules really concerns me. Along with safety around WWV and prevailing vehicle speeds, it is important to address these situations with the police presence and expertise we have in Westwood.
James Spies
A recent accident in Leawood has really brought this issue to the forefront of our concerns. Putting politics and campaigning aside for a moment, I trust we can all agree that the safety of our residents, especially kids, is of paramount importance. With that in mind, I would like to invite anyone interested in this issue to collaborate as we try to find some solutions before tragedy strikes again. I believe a coalition of concerned residents and our police department can work together to find some common-sense solutions to this growing concern. For example, I believe the police department should offer safety courses, perhaps at the school, for both parents and kids, on responsible use of these scooters and bikes. Additionally, I believe that helmets should be mandatory, and that if police see a kid without one that they should be escorted home by the officer. However, these are just a couple of ideas, and I am encouraging anyone interested to join me in brainstorming ideas. As a cyclist myself, I am keenly aware of the dangers of riding on the road, and I fear young kids likely do not yet appreciate the risks they are taking.
Jennifer Westlake
Did not provide the Post with a response.
