BAKER — The Baker City Council voted to regulate electric low-speed scooters to enhance public safety, effective immediately.

The ordinance establishes rules for the operation, equipment and parking of scooters within the city.

Electric scooters have grown in popularity as an urban transit alternative, and Baker is no exception. Residents told WBRZ they welcome the changes, reporting they have seen riders speeding down roads.

"They are going too fast, they're coming out in front of cars, they're not stopping. They think they just have control of the roads and someone's going to seriously get hurt and injured on these scooters," resident Angela Kenerson Elbert said.

District 4 Councilman Robert Young introduced the measure, telling WBRZ he received numerous complaints from constituents about the devices.

"When they started bringing it to my attention, then I started paying attention, and then I started seeing how obvious they were right," Young said.

Under the new regulations, scooters are limited to one rider at a time. Riders cannot carry any package or bundle that prevents them from keeping both hands on the handlebars.

"Regulating them not riding in the middle of the streets on Main Street like Highway 19, as I witnessed for myself and Lavey Lane," Young said.

Riders 16 or younger must wear an approved helmet. The top speed for an electric scooter powered solely by an electric motor on a level, paved surface is capped at 15 mph.

"There's going to be some adjustments made between the Police Department and us. We're going to make some certain adjustments on there so there's going to be some amendments to it," Young said.

Scooters cannot be parked on streets, sidewalks or public rights-of-way in a way that blocks traffic or pedestrians.

Riders on roadways must stay as close to the right side of the road as possible, use bike lanes when available, and exercise caution when passing stationary vehicles. Exceptions apply when passing another scooter, bicycle or vehicle traveling in the same direction; preparing to turn left into an intersection, private road or driveway; or avoiding hazards that make riding along the right edge unsafe.

On sidewalks, riders must yield the right of way to pedestrians, give an audible signal before passing, and maintain a reasonable speed.

Violators 17 or older face a $50 fine or several days in jail. Violators younger than 17 could face charges in juvenile court.

Young said the measure aligns Baker's regulations with those of Baton Rouge.