We can understand the concern and irritation some city residents have regarding mini bikes or e-bikes that sometimes feel like they’ve overtaken city streets.

For some people the e-bikes are a vital means of transportation. They’re inexpensive to operate, relatively cheap to purchase compared to gas-powered vehicles and require no visits to the DMV to renew a driver’s license or to register the vehicle. While much of the discussion of e-bikes at the state level has focused on battery charging fires caused by early models of the e-bikes, legislation to create a safer riding environment has not gained any traction in the state Legislature.

It’s time for that to change.

As city resident Richard Harrington noted during last week’s City Council meeting, improper e-bike use is a problem in some areas of the city. It’s not as serious as the Part 1 crimes that are making headlines over the past few weeks, but they are a nuisance for those who walk on city sidewalks and for drivers who have to try to share the road with a new type of vehicle whose riders often don’t know the rules of the road and create traffic issues. Unlike bicycles, which travel fairly slowly, e-bikes travel fast enough to require some knowledge of traffic laws in order to keep riders safe.

There are many city residents who want to see the police department be more aggressive in policing e-bike riders. But until the state creates a new subsection of vehicle and traffic law there will be limits to what a police officer can do. Many state lawmakers have realized more oversight is needed when it comes to e-bikes. There have been several bills introduced in the state Legislature over the past five years to require things like safety training, a DMV registration and helmets, for example.

It’s time for rules regarding the use and operation of e-bikes, as well as some form of training for riders.