Rider and Pedestrian Safety: What You Need to Know
Pedestrian and rider safety is a top priority in the City of Summit. With the growing popularity of bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and e-bikes/e-scooters, the city has seen an increase in unsafe riding behavior, particularly among young people. Too often, riders are spotted without helmets, moving at high speeds, or weaving through pedestrian areas, creating dangerous situations for themselves and others. In response, the city has introduced a new ordinance to ensure that everyone can enjoy the outdoors while staying safe and respectful of shared spaces.
Safety Guidelines for Riders
Whether you're using a skateboard, bike, scooter, or e-bike/e-scooter, it’s important to understand where and how you can ride safely and legally in Summit.
Non-Motorized Transportation (Section 3-17):
Sidewalk Use in the Downtown District: Riding on sidewalks is prohibited in the Downtown District. This includes parts of Springfield Avenue, Maple Street, Beechwood Road, DeForest Avenue, and Summit Avenue.
Sidewalk Use Outside Downtown: You may ride on sidewalks in other parts of the city, but you must slow down and yield to pedestrians. Failure to do so could result in a fine up to $100.
Respect Public Property: Do not ride on or use benches, fences, rails, or walls as part of your ride. This applies to both public and private property.