Smithtown bans e-bikes, e-scooters from parks and beaches

Smithtown has approved legislation barring the operation of electric bicycles and electric scooters from town parks and beaches.

The town board voted unanimously Thursday on code amendments that put the restrictions into effect. The ban covers e-bikes as well as motorized devices, such as e-scooters, ATVs, dirt bikes and mopeds.

Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim said in a statement that the town is aligning with existing state and Suffolk County laws regulating e-bike and all-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, “while adding an extra layer of protection by prohibiting their use in our parks and beaches.”

“These measures are about keeping our families, pedestrians, and recreational spaces safe for everyone to enjoy responsibly,” Wehrheim said.

At a public hearing on May 5, Assistant Town Attorney Rachel Lenberger said one measure updates the town code to add e-bike definitions that are consistent with New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.

Under the amendment, the operation of e-bikes and motorized devices are prohibited in town parks, beaches, trails and recreational facilities unless the town board has made an exception.

The changes to the code also authorize park employees, such as Smithtown's park rangers, to seize and impound e-bikes and motorized vehicles, Lenberger said at that hearing.

Parents or legal guardians also can be held responsible for children under 18 who violate the law.

Those who have their e-bikes impounded will have to pay a $250 redemption fee for the first violation, and a $500 fee for a second within five years, the law states.

For impounded motorized devices, the redemption fee is $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for the second within five years.

The board restricted the operation of e-bikes and motorized devices to pedestrian walkways, paths or specifically marked trails.

The law contains several safety provisions. A helmet is required to operate e-bikes or motorized devices, and operators must be at least 16 years old.

The restrictions do not apply to mobility devices used by individuals with disabilities, including wheelchairs and other federally and state-protected technology, said Nicole Garguilo, a town spokeswoman.

In March, local officials and state legislators urged tighter regulations on e-bikes and e-scooters. They cited among those under 18 a sharp increase in e-bike and e-scooter crashes, Newsday reported. Between 2023 and 2025, trauma case admissions at Stony Brook Children's Hospital involving e-bikes and e-scooters spiked by more than 900%, administrators said.

The Town of Babylon last summer approved a ban on e-bikes and e-scooters at its parks and beaches, Newsday has reported. This year, the town plans to heavily enforce the ban, officials said. Violators face fines between $500 and $2,500.