SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Some of you may have noticed more of these in the area. Some of you call them unicycles. Others call them Electric Wheels. Our viewer Stephen tells us he spotted one in Ozark. He says,
the motorized unicycle passed us on the left in evening traffic. There were no license plates or markings; is this legal?
Wheel drivers can cut loose on the dirt in Northern Arkansas at the
Amped Electric Games.
But not everyone is taking their wheels off-road. And on the streets, you roll with a different set of rules.
“(It’s) A lot of the same advice that is given to motorcycle riders is also given to electric unicycle riders,” explained Seth Johnson of the Amped Electric Games. “Namely, pretend you’re invisible.”
The City of Ozark informed us that neither the City of Ozark nor the State of Missouri has a definitive set of rules addressing the electric unicycle. At best, we’re told it remains a grey area in law enforcement.
“There is not a specific statute to deal with these one-wheel type devices,” says Grant Rahmeyer of
Rah Law
.
Attorney Rahmeyer believes riders of the electric wheel should follow the same rules as riders as an
electric bicycle rider
. So, don’t go on major highways or the interstate.
“They’re not allowed to be on there because of the speed differences, as they impede traffic and make safety issues. Definitely for the person on the one wheel, but for everybody else as well, ” explained Rahmeyer.
If you own one, know that each law enforcement officer or agency may interpret the law a little differently.
“Hypothetically, say I’m on a street in Ozark or Nixa, and you pull up behind me, what happens then? Do I get a ticket?” asked Paul Adler
“We’re gonna tell you to get off the road,” explained Mike McClure of the
Missouri State Highway Patrol
.
Ozark offered this advice:
*Ride to the right of the roadway unless making a left-hand turn
*Obey traffic laws
*Wear bright or reflective clothing
*Use a front-facing lamp and a rear-facing red reflector
*Do wear the personal protection equipment.
“We typically tell people when they purchase a wheel, you should always wear all of your safety gear,” explained Johnson. “Which includes helmet, wrist guards, and knee guards. If people are curious as well, we are very approachable as far as a group. We love this hobby, we love this sport, and we love to tell other people about it. So, if you do see somebody that’s out there riding an electric cycle, give them a wave or a thumbs up.”
The City of Ozark added, with all new trends, the City of Ozark and the Ozark Police Department will continue to evaluate if ordinances are needed to ensure safe roads for citizens and visitors.
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Here’s that statement from the City of Ozark:
Neither the City of Ozark nor the State of Missouri has a definitive set of rules addressing the electric unicycle (personal transportation device) in the attached picture. At best, this remains a grey area in law enforcement.
As a community, Ozark advocates for multi-modal transportation and continually observes new emerging forms of transportation around the city. Our ultimate goal is to accommodate these various forms of transportation in a safe manner.
Within RSMo 307.205-307.211, an Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device and the responsibilities of the operator are defined; however, the unicycle you observed does not meet this definition due to it having only one wheel. City of Ozark Code would not allow this electric device to be operated on a sidewalk, pursuant to City Code 340.100; therefore, the roadway would be the only allowable way to navigate streets within Ozark.
As personal transportation technology continues to emerge and new personal transportation devices are available for use, we would ask operators to use extra caution as this could cause confusion, alarm, or distracted interest from other drivers who are not familiar with the device. On occasion, new transportation technology emerges before state and city laws have been adopted and/or amended to stay current. As with all drivers/ operators of personal transportation devices, we would ask for compliance with the following roadway laws:
-Ride to the right of the roadway unless making a left-hand turn
-Obey traffic laws
-Wear personal protection equipment
-Wear bright or reflective clothing
-Equip front-facing lamp
-Equip rear-facing red reflector
With all new trends, the City of Ozark and the Ozark Police Department will continue to evaluate if ordinances are needed to ensure safe roads for our citizens and visitors.
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