ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia lawmakers are putting off proposed rules for electric scooters, which have filled streets and sidewalks in Atlanta, Athens and other cities.
Legislation being considered in the General Assembly would have regulated electric scooters statewide, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported .
However, a Senate committee recently approved a version of the bill with the scooter regulations stripped out. The legislation, if approved, would still regulate electric bikes.
State Rep. Kevin Tanner, a Republican from Dawsonville, told the Senate Public Safety Committee recently that he’s putting off the proposed statewide rules for electric scooters until next year while negotiations with scooter companies continue.
Electric scooters have been popping up in several Georgia communities since last spring.
Supporters say they’re great for short trips, but critics say they’re a nuisance and can be dangerous to their drivers, pedestrians and motorists.
The devices have proliferated so fast that local governments are scrambling to enact rules for their use, the Atlanta newspaper reported.
The legislation in the General Assembly would have banned people from parking scooters on sidewalks and in other locations that could hinder vehicles or pedestrians, among other restrictions.
However, negotiations with companies that lease scooters are not complete, Tanner said.
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Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com
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