E-Bikes, E-Scooters Banned From Athletic Fields: Vienna Elementary

VIENNA, VA — Vienna officials are reminding families that e-bikes and e-scooters are prohibited on town athletic fields after recent misuse resulted in safety concerns, litter and damage to the turf at a popular community athletic field.

Vienna Elementary School shared the warning with families in its Sept. 25 newsletter, saying the Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation Department is asking for help keeping community spaces safe and clean.

Subscribe

The school said e-bikes and e-scooters are "strictly prohibited" on all athletic fields, including Waters Field. The field, located near Vienna Elementary, is also not allowed to be used as an after-school hangout for students.

"Recent misuse has led to safety hazards, litter, and turf damage," the school said, adding that local officials and police have increased preventive measures and locked field gates. Parents were asked to discuss the rules with their children.

The warning comes as Vienna police have stepped up their focus on unsafe e-bike use around town.

The Vienna Police Department launched a "Safer Streets Through Education" initiative in May in an effort to educate families about the laws for different classes of e-bikes and prepare them for stepped-up enforcement.

Laws governing e-bike use vary depending on the vehicles' power and potential speed. Some are allowed on town trails, while others are not. Detailed information about the classes of bikes can be found here.

Police said they have received complaints from residents about reckless e-bike riding in neighborhoods and other areas of Vienna and have increased patrols in places and at times where problems are most frequently reported. On occasion, illegal vehicles have been removed from roads entirely.

Vienna police ask residents who witness dangerous or reckless riding to report it in the moment so officers can respond and identify recurring problem areas.

This is the second time Vienna Elementary has raised concerns about e-bike use to parents. In an Aug. 28 message, the school told families that students may not ride bikes, scooters or e-bikes on the blacktop next to the school after dismissal, while other children are playing there.