BROKEN BOW – The Broken Bow City Council voted Tuesday evening to reject the current version of a proposed ordinance regulating electric bicycles, electric scooters and hoverboards, opting instead to revise the measure with minor adjustments and bring it back with full revisions included for consideration at the next city council meeting.
Council members, city staff and residents spent more than an hour reviewing the proposal during public hearing, focusing on where e-bikes can be operated, requirements for younger riders and how closely local regulations should mirror existing state law.
“We also have to find the balance of what we can restrict to keep people safe and also allow them to be free to go as they please,” City Council member Travis Kleeb said.
Since the last City Council meeting City Council members Kleeb and Russ Smith along with the City Administrator, David Schmidt put together an updated ordinance to include revisions from the previous meeting. The updated ordinance presented indicates no minor person without a motorcycle permit is allowed to ride an electric scooter, electric bicycle, or hoverboard on roads within Broken Bow city limits where the speed is more than 25 MPH, and restricts youth riders entirely from the downtown business area.
“The idea is we want a kid to at least have some sort of test that they’re talking about road safety,” Kleeb said.
One of the primary discussion points centered on language where riders should operate their e-bikes on city streets and the language regarding the guidelines for minors.
The Broken Bow Deputy clerk, Jacob Holcomb read portions of Nebraska statute requiring bicyclists traveling below normal traffic speed to ride as close as practical to the right side of the roadway unless conditions make doing so unsafe. Several council members supported incorporating similar language into the ordinance.
Nebraska State Statute 60-6317 discussed during the meeting, “Any person who operates a bicycle upon a roadway at less than a normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under conditions than existing shall ride as near to the right hand curb or right hand edge of the roadway as practicable. Except when…..reasonably necessary to avoid conditions that make it unsafe to continue along the right hand curb or right hand edge of the roadway, including fixed or moving objects, stopped or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals or surface hazards,” Holcomb said.
Discussion also focused on whether minors should be required to prosses some type of drivers permit or license before operating certain e-bikes not only limiting it to a motorcycle license. Conversations highlighted whether learner’s permits, school permits or provisional operators permits would satisfy that requirement, with several expressing a desire to ensure young riders have some understanding of traffic laws before using motor assisted bicycles on city streets.
“The majority of these e-bikes, what we’re trying to do here are for minors. The ones that apply to majority are just like if your going to ride at night you need to have lights, no riding on the sidewalks,” White said.
Council members also noted that under the proposed ordinance, riders would still be allowed to bring e-bikes into the business district but would be required to walk them rather than ride them.
Several council members noted that communities across Nebraska, including larger metro areas as well as Ord and Kearney, have adopted similar regulations. However, they said those ordinances are not always fully detailed and often vary in how they address enforcement and safety concerns based on the size and needs of each community.
Given the number of proposed revisions and in the interest of transparency and compliance with the ordinance review process, the City Attorney Jason White and Broken Bow Mayor Rod Sonnichsen recommended restarting the process with a new ordinance. The council subsequently voted not to approve Ordinance 1311 as presented. A revised version of the ordinance is expected to be considered at the July 14, 2026 City Council meeting.
Electric Use Fees
A public hearing for Ordinance 1309 for the Electric use fee was unanimously approved. The ordinance was originally discussed during a city council meeting in May, with a proposed increase of electric rates for city electric customers. The increase included a 4% increase for customers due to a 5% increase towards the city from the electric wholesaler.
Board Appointments
Kyle Finney was appointed for the Broken Bow Airport Authority Board a term ending June 2032. It was also approved to reappoint Mike Garner, Breanna Kaup, and Rachel Schmidt to the Broken Bow Library Board for a term ending in February of 2030.
Other Comments
During council comments, Council Member Kleeb raised concerns about visibility at the intersection of 10th and D Streets and asked whether modifications to nearby parking spaces could improve sight lines and overall traffic safety. City Attorney White noted that any changes at that intersection could prompt similar discussions at other locations throughout the city.
Mayor Sonnichsen said the matter could be placed on a future agenda for further review and suggested including Broken Bow Police Chief Chris Anderson in the discussion to provide additional insight and recommendations.
The next meeting of the Broken Bow City Council is scheduled for July 14 at 6:00 p.m. at the Broken Bow Municipal Building.
