Abington Township Board Votes 9-5 to Advertise E-Bike Ban in Township Parks

Borough Council · Meeting of July 9, 2026

Abington Township's Board of Commissioners voted 9 to 5 to advertise an ordinance banning e-bikes and e-scooters from township parks, with a final adoption vote expected no earlier than September. The motion, item BOC 04-07-0926, drew pushback from several public speakers, including Ross Abel, co-chair of Bike Montgomery County, who asked the board via video conference to "revise it to allow lawful low speed e-bikes where conventional bicycles are allowed" rather than impose a broad ban. Parks staff confirmed the majority of complaints have come from Alverthorpe, Ardsley, Roslyn, and Pembron parks, where walkers have reported e-bikes passing at unsafe speeds near children; Pembron also sustained field damage requiring public works repair.

Voting no were Vice President Beghi and Commissioners Brown, Henry, Laney-Martin, and Weingrad. Commissioner Laney-Martin called the blanket ban "lazy," arguing the township should instead pursue outreach and education. The board also received a presentation from Sergeant Mike Coghlan on a new traffic calming policy, which would for the first time give residents a formal petition process for requesting speed humps and similar devices, with a final adoption vote expected in two weeks.

In the full story:

• Traffic Calming Policy Presentation (BOC 03-07-0926)
• E-Bike and E-Scooter Ordinance (BOC 04-07-0926)
• Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan (BOC 05-07-0926)
• New Abington Township Public Library Design RFP (BOC 06-07-0926)
• Rockwell Road Stormwater Project Scope Revision (BOC 07-07-0926)
• Fire Prevention Ordinance (BOC 08-07-0926)
• The complete report — 3,071 words

Source: the Borough Council meeting of July 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.