Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Canfield police Chief Chuck Colucci discusses e-bike use and how local Scouts can help make them safer with Bruce Kelly from Troop 9002 in Poland.

CANFIELD — The city police department is making progress in educating local residents and children about safe and legal e-bike use.

“We are doing our best to educate young riders and parents on the laws and safety,” said Canfield police Chief Chuck Colucci. “Last week, Boardman had an 8-year-old on an e-scooter try to beat a vehicle in a driveway and was run over, crushing the child’s leg.”

He said Canfield officers will enforce laws and pull over kids, educate them and call their parents. Colucci noted children might get cited, but the parents are called to pick up the e-bike. None have been confiscated so far.

Councilman Mark Graham said he saw a young rider the other day traveling at 20 mph without a helmet. He said it is concerning.

Mayor Don Dragish also noticed a speeding e-bike on his street.

“I saw a police cruiser go past the e-bike speeders and the officer turned his overhead lights on,” Dragish said. “The young riders immediately stopped and went on the sidewalk to wait for the officer.”

He said the officer talked to the young riders and they have not been seen speeding since.

Addressing the various classes of e-bikes at the recent council meeting was officer Matthew Hunter. He spoke during a recent city council meeting on the recognized three classes of e-bikes.

Class 1, he said, covers pedal assisted e-bikes without throttles and with a maximum speed of 20 mph. Class 2 is a pedal-assisted e-bike with a throttle that can still top off at 20 mph. The third class is an e-bike with a throttle and pedal-assist capable of reaching maximum speeds of 28 mph when using the pedal-assist. This class also limits the motors to a maximum of 750 watts.

Hunter said all three classes can be used on sidewalks, trails and roads limited to local laws and ordinances. The Class 3 e-bikes have additional requirements that include a rider being a minimum of 16 and wearing a required helmet, if under age 18.

The rules are a little different for the e-scooters.

“Electric scooters are considered low-speed micro mobility devices,” Hunter said. “Riders must be at least 14 years of age and if under 18, must be accompanied with adult supervision.”

Colucci said he observed several e-bike riders on Hillside Drive cross U.S. 224 (East Main Street) while the traffic light was red. He said e-bike riders must also follow the laws.

Hunter said he recently pulled over an e-bike that had no pedals.

“These are classed as dirt bikes and fall under laws for dirt bikes,” he said.

Another change a person can make could reclassify a dirt bike as well. If a Class 3 e-bike had the motor changed to a 1,000 watt or higher, that bike would then be classified as a motorcycle and would require licensing.

Colucci said for now, education is the key, and officers will continue to pull over young riders who are not following basic safety standards. He may have additional help from the youth in uniform.

Bruce Kelly, 16, son of Steph and Pat Kelly of Canfield and a member of BSA Troop 9002 in Poland, met with Colucci after last week’s city meeting.

“What can I do to help,” he asked.

Colucci told him that talking to the younger riders carries a lot of weight.

“They will look up to you and will listen to you,” Colucci said.