MIDDLETOWN, CT (WFSB) – As electric bikes and scooters become more popular, Connecticut police departments are expressing concerns about safety and regulations.

Middletown Police Chief Erika Costa and other state leaders have noted a worrying trend where electric bikes and scooters often end up on sidewalks, riding against traffic or taking the wrong route direction on one-way streets.

“In a city like Middletown or Hartford or New Haven, these e-bikes end up on our sidewalks or go against the flow or the wrong way in a one-way street. These are the things we need to curb,” Costa said.

Currently, there are no national laws requiring helmets or setting a minimum age for users of electric bicycles and scooters.

Although e-bikes can reach speeds of up to 28 mph, Chief Costa mentioned that some riders exceed this limit, raising other safety concerns.

Keith Goeben, owner of Berkshire Bike and Board in Bloomfield, stressed the importance of responsible riding.

“We’re the last to touch something like this, so we have to make sure what we’re selling is safe when it comes out,” he said.

Goeben echoed Costa’s concerns about speed and its impact on road safety.

The Connecticut Association of Chiefs of Police plans to address these issues during the state’s next session of the General Assembly, with the goal of establishing regulations that ensure the safety of all road users.

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