GENEVA — The way people get around the city has certainly changed over the past few years with the rise of alternative modes of transportation such as battery-powered bikes, scooters, and skateboards.

However, some of the operators are not using them in the safest manner — putting themselves and others in harm’s way, city officials say.

Thus, City Council is pondering a set of regulations to improve safety for the operators, as well as pedestrians and motorists — and, in particular, the city plans to make parents accountable for children younger than 16 operating bikes and other devices they are prohibited by state law from using.

City Council is considering measures to regulate what they are calling “alternate motor vehicles,” and that includes gas-powered types. The regulations follow discussions last year by the previous City Council on safety issues of e-bikes, a mode of transportation that is growing in popularity rapidly.

Ward 5 Councilor Jim Petropoulos proposed last November the city consider regulations for operating them in Geneva, and at its July 21 meeting, Council will consider adopting them.

In response, Police Chief Ron Eveland has put together proposed regulations.

“Over the past several months, the City of Geneva has experienced a significant increase in the use of alternative motorized vehicles on public streets, sidewalks, and city-owned property,” Eveland said in a preface to the proposed regulations. “This increase has generated a growing number of public safety concerns, noise complaints, and conflicts between device operators and pedestrians.”

In the proposed resolution, the city said some using these alternative forms of transportation are doing so in “an unsafe and unlawful manner on public roads, sidewalks, and city-owned property” and that they are posing “a risk to public health, safety, and welfare, particularly to pedestrians, park users, other cyclists, and motor vehicle operators.”

The resolution states the city, through the state’s Vehicle and Traffic Law, has the right to regulate them.

The legislation said it “finds it necessary and appropriate to establish clear, uniform, and enforceable local standards governing the operation of both battery-powered and gas-powered alternative motorized vehicles, including minimum age requirements, speed restrictions, sidewalk and park prohibitions, and parental responsibility provisions.”

The measure would allow the city authority to impound them and assess fees to get them back.

The city stresses that the law does not apply to bicycles with electric assist or any manual or electrically driven mobility assistance device, scooter, tricycle, or similar device used by a person with a disability.

Among the provisions for battery-powered motor motorized vehicles:

Those younger than 16 are not allowed to use them on any public highway or city-owned property. Anyone violating the provision “shall be presumed to have done so with the knowledge, permission or acquiescence of his or her parent or legal guardian.” The parent or legal guardian would be “subject to prosecution and, upon conviction, shall be guilty of an offense for facilitating the unlawful operation of a battery powered alternative motorized vehicle” and subject to fines.No person shall ride a battery-powered vehicle on any sidewalk.No person shall operate a battery-powered alternative motorized vehicle on any city road with a posted speed limit of over 30 mph.No battery-powered alternative motorized vehicle shall be operated at a speed exceeding 20 mph.It would be illegal to operate them impaired or drunk.No person shall ride them in city parks or on city pathways.

Some of the additional regulations for gas-powered alternative forms of transportation, which also includes ATVs:

No operation on any road or any public property except those whose vehicles properly equipped and licensed to do so by the state.No person younger than 16 can drive a gas-powered alternative motorized vehicle upon any public highway, or city owned property. Once again, parents would be subject to prosecution and potential fines.Punishments

Those found guilty of violations under the ordinance could be fined up to $500 and/or spend up to 15 days in jail. Fines and jail times would be increased for a second offense. Additionally, police would be able to impound an alternative motorized vehicles operated in violation of city regulations, and owners/users would need to pay redemption fees of $250, plus a $10-a-day storage fee, with higher amounts for subsequent violations.

If City Council approves the measure, the next step would be setting a public hearing, Eveland noted.