House passes bill that would ban pocket bikes from public streets

Riding the anti-pocket bike movement already seen in a number of Utah cities, the Utah House on Monday approved a bill that would ban the little critters from public streets and property.

HB159 by Rep. Brad Dee, R-Ogden, passed 52-18 and goes to the Senate.

Dee said the bill was brought to him by the police chiefs association and has the backing of county sheriffs, too.

The small motorized bikes are less than 23 inches from the ground, with only about 1 inch clearance between frame and ground. A number of cities and towns have already banned the bikes from public roads, officials saying they are just not safe.

"We want to reduce all these injuries" that are being suffered when the pocket bike operators are hit by cars and involved in other accidents. "You certainly can't see (the bikes) from a SUV or pick-up truck," said Dee.

Several rural lawmakers raised concerns about the bill. Dee agreed with one legislator that his bill would ban pocket bikes from the parking lots of state parks, or on trails on public lands. But he said small four-wheel ATVs are exempt from his bill, so families could still run those in appropriate areas on public lands.