The where, when, and who can ride an electric bike and scooter depends on where you live. Last week, a Sturgeon Bay boy had to be taken to Door County Medical Center to be treated for severe injuries Tuesday afternoon after he was struck by an oncoming vehicle on his electric scooter. Witnesses say the boy was "fixated" on crossing the street and did not attempt to stop or look for oncoming traffic as he rode. The rules regarding electric bikes and electric scooters vary depending on the municipality. In bigger cities like Milwaukee and Green Bay, they are not allowed to travel on sidewalks but can utilize bike lanes and the streets. In nearby Howard, electric bike users must have a valid driver's license to operate and will be cited if they cause an accident or are caught riding recklessly. In Sturgeon Bay, electric bikes and electric scooters are treated like their analog versions, and anyone can operate them on sidewalks. Sturgeon Bay Assistant Police Chief Dan Brinkman says you should know the rules of the road to stay safe and to avoid incidents like what happened last week.

Brinkman says that while electric bike and scooter usage is on the upswing locally, he does not see any changes coming in the near future unless they become a big problem.