Councilman Joseph Mickens wants the city of Columbus to look into potentially creating a law that addresses hoverboard safety.
Mickens, who represents Ward 2, brought the matter up during Tuesday’s council meeting.
“I’ve been riding down the neighborhoods and I’m seeing kids in the street with these hoverboards, riding them,” Mickens said. “Grown men are riding them down the street. I’m wondering what the mayor and council can do from a safety perspective. They have no helmet on, they’ve got no kneepads, and yet they’re riding them down the street.”
Hoverboards are two-wheeled, motorized scooter boards people ride while balancing atop them. They are made by several different brands and have been banned by the three largest U.S. airlines, citing potential fire danger from the lithium-ion batteries that power them.
In January, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said there have been serious injuries caused by falls. Hoverboards are prohibited on New York City streets. A new law in California requires riders to be at least 16 and wear a helmet in public.
Columbus Police Chief Oscar Lewis told the council Tuesday the city does not currently have any laws regarding hoverboards.
Lewis said his officers, at this point, can only cite someone on a hoverboard for interfering with traffic flow.
Mickens said he has an issue with hoverboards because he’s seeing people ride them along streets. He told The Dispatch he saw a man riding a hoverboard Tuesday morning near Highway 45 North.
“Cars had to get over and stop to let him by because he wasn’t driving anything sturdy,” Mickens said. “It was a concern and I think it’s something the mayor and council needs to address before someone gets hurt. I don’t know if we need to make it an ordinace but we’re definitely going to be looking into it.”
Ward 4 Councilman Marty Turner said the city would need to create an ordinance allowing hoverboards either on sidewalks or streets. He said a city ordinance forbids bicycles from sidewalks.
“That’s the only way we’re going to be able to rectify the situation,” Turner said.
Other business
The city council unanimously approved a $181,100 bid from Southern Civil Contracting to demolish the Gilmer Inn and former Brumley sporting goods store in downtown Columbus.
City Engineer Kevin Stafford said Southern Civil Contracting bid to complete the project in 60-75 days.
The city purchased the two adjacent properties in December for a combined $670,000.
The council also unanimously approved a request from Lowndes County Administrator Ralph Billingsley to waive landfill fees for county-approved contractors who dump debris from Thursday’s storm at the landfill. The storm spawned an EF-1 tornado that damaged several homes in the New Hope area.
Landfill fees are $21 per ton with a $10 minimum charge, according to the city’s website.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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