Babylon Town to crack down on e-bikes, e-scooters at parks, beaches

The Town of Babylon this spring will be more heavily enforcing a ban on electric bikes and e-scooters at its parks and beaches, including by impounding the vehicles, according to town officials.

The ban, which was unanimously passed by the town board in July, prohibits the use of e-bikes, e-scooters and golf carts at any of its beaches and parks.

The law extends beyond the sand and grass to the parking lots and “other areas under the jurisdiction of the town,” town spokesman Ryan Bonner told Newsday last summer. The prohibition does not include ADA-compliant motorized vehicles used by those with disabilities.

After the law was passed last summer, the town began issuing warnings to violators, said Gerard Gigante, the town’s public safety commissioner. “This year we’re going to be more proactive,” he told Newsday, adding that the town has been putting up signs to let park and beach visitors know about the ban.

Those age 16 and older will be issued a warning the first time, Gigante said, and then a summons and their vehicles impounded if they commit another violation. If the person is deemed to have been driving recklessly or try to evade being stopped, the e-bike or scooter may be confiscated without a warning, he said.

Those who violate the ban face a fine of between $500 and $2,500.

Those younger than 16 also will first get a warning, unless they are driving recklessly, in which case the e-bike or scooter will be impounded and their parents called.

“We’re not looking to warehouse these things,” Gigante said. “We’re just trying to clean up the parks.”

Sarah Scott, of North Babylon, said she supports the ban but is skeptical about enforcement. “I will believe it when I see it,” she said.

Scott’s daughter Kennedy, 2, was nearly hit by two kids on e-bikes while at the concession stand at Phelps Lane Park in North Babylon last September, she said. The child would then “panic” and become “hysterical” whenever hearing the bikes or other loud noises, Scott said.

“It continued like that for a very long time,” she said. “She was never like that before. It was heartbreaking.”

When Scott was at the park again and saw someone on an e-bike, she said, she told a public safety officer in a car nearby, who, she said, replied that there was “nothing he could do” about it.

“Somebody’s going to get hurt if they don’t start enforcing it,” Scott said. “My daughter should be able to walk by the concession stand with a lollipop without her almost getting seriously injured or worse. Thank God that didn’t happen but honestly the trauma after was pretty intense.”

The town is asking the public if they see an e-bike or e-scooter in a park to call the Public Safety Department at 631-422-7600. 

By Denise M. Bonilla

denise.bonilla@newsday.comdenisebonilla

Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.