Florence residents have until Sept. 16 to tell city officials how they want e-bikes, electric scooters, golf carts and utility terrain vehicles regulated on public roads.

The city opened its Alternative Mobility Survey on Sept. 2, collecting input before any rules are drafted. No local ordinances govern electric bikes in Florence right now, Police Chief Jeff Mallery told the city council at its July 28 meeting.

The survey follows weeks of discussion at Florence City Hall and across Boone County about how to handle the growing number of battery-powered vehicles on neighborhood streets.

At the July 28 council meeting, Councilmember Lesley Chambers noted that a child had been struck in Union while the council was debating the issue.

City Administrator Joshua J. Hunt recommended the free online survey after consulting with Boone County Fiscal Court Administrator Matthew Webster. Webster told the Fiscal Court at its own July 28 meeting that Assistant County Attorney Bill Knoebel had completed a review of state statutes, county ordinances and market research, and had met with the sheriff's office, Public Works and county administration. A presentation to the Fiscal Court was expected at a future caucus meeting.

Hunt told the Florence council that the county expected to begin discussing potential legislation in late September or early October. Councilmember Diane Whalen said she preferred to wait for the Fiscal Court's direction so Florence could align its rules with the county's. Councilmember Angie Cable supported running the survey while the county worked on its own approach.

Under Kentucky law, e-bikes are classified the same as traditional bicycles, meaning cities cannot simply ban them from public roads, WCPO reported Aug. 17. The state sets a minimum age of 16 for e-scooter riders. The city's announcement also noted that recent changes to Kentucky law have expanded where certain UTVs may operate on public roadways, though the specific legislation was not identified.

Mallery said at the July 28 meeting that the police department would prioritize education over tickets. He said "it was more effective to stop a child and discuss safe operation than immediately issue citations," reserving tickets for repeat offenders. The department also planned to add bicycle safety instruction to its Teen Academy curriculum.

The survey is open to residents, business owners and community members. Boone County already has an ordinance regulating golf cart use on certain streets, according to Fiscal Court meeting records. The City of Union agreed at a July 27 special meeting to follow whatever regulations the county adopts.

Residents can take the survey online through Sept. 16 or call the Florence Administration Department at 859-647-8177 with questions.