One trip up Canal Road, one ride through Orange Beach neighborhoods and they are like buzzing flies.

A steady stream of e-bikes and scooters has kids and grownups alike spiriting about town, some carrying fishing poles as summertime buddies head for a favorite back bay fishing hole, others heading to area restaurants, bars or parks.

But the buzzing has fast become zooming as many of the mostly e-bikes – a few are gas-powered – are capable of scary speeds and creating scary scenarios as they intermingle with pedestrians, automobile traffic, golf cart traffic and other e-bikers zooming about.

Orange Beach City Council will try to address the growing numbers of e-bikes and other vehicles in two ordinances it will consider at a joint regular and committee of the whole meeting on Aug. 4 at 5 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and convene at City Hall, 4099 Orange Beach Blvd.

One of those is aimed at regulating businesses that want to rent “recreation vehicles” to residents or tourists. Those can include golf carts, slingshots and other passenger vehicles, low-speed vehicles as well as e-bikes.

A second will address resident use of e-bikes with power restrictions set on pedestrian paths in the city.

“Electric motorcycle operation is also on the rise, and they pose a more significant public safety hazard due to their increased speed capabilities,” the proposed ordinance states. “It is necessary to adopt reasonable regulations to govern the use of bicycles, micromobility devices and electric motorcycles.”

Any e-bikes or e-moto or electric scooters with power at 750 watts or above would require a state driver’s license and insurance to operate in Orange Beach, basically the same as golf cart rules for residents.

“The operation of electric motorcycles shall be restricted to public roadways and to private property which is not held open to the public for pedestrian travel,” the proposed ordinance states.

Regulations for pedal bikes, pedal-assist e-bikes and fully electric bikes under 750 watts, some still capable of 28 mph, will allow for those to be ridden on sidewalks, multi-modal paths and the Backcountry Trail. All have different speed limits with 20 mph on sidewalks and multi-modal paths and 12 mph for the Backcountry Trail.

Riders would now also have to slow down to 10 mph when greeting other riders or pedestrians and also warn pedestrians when approaching from behind.

During the regular session, council will also discuss and/or vote on:

Paying vendors $1.5 million for goods and services through Aug. 5;

Accepting a price for removal of exotic and invasive plant species of $98,342 to Coogan Lawn and Landscape;

Buying a work skiff for Coastal Resources from Roberts Welding for $94,480. The price includes installation of a motor provided by the city, hydraulic steering and navigation electronics. The skiff will be used in the city’s shoreline cleanup program;

An annual contract with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for the Orange Beach to manage construction permitting on the city’s beaches. The city will be reimbursed $37,950 for providing the services;

Awarding Sgt. Joey Brown his service weapons and badge as part of his retirement package;

Authorizing a software service contract with Motorola Solutions for a three-year FLEX subscription for the police department. The software will help manage computer-aided dispatch and the jail system and provide primary and back-up servers. The first year will cost $288,031 and $112,719 each for years two and three. The current servers are in year seven of a five- to seven-year life expectancy, a memo from Police Chief Trent Johnson states;

Authorizing a contract with Whelen Engineering for patrol vehicle software for the police department. Police will use the software and other services free of charge for a limited time;

Authorizing a contract with Adams Stewart Architect for services including the design and engineering services for a hurricane safe room for first responders for $306,000 to be built at the city’s shooting range;

Reappointing Bill Brett of Brett Robinson to the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism Board of Directors;

An agreement to continue participation in the Municipal Workers Compensation Fund; and

Accepting the donation of police K9 Nox from the Orange Beach Police K-9 Foundation.

Council will also:

Have a first reading and a public hearing for a sign change for Columbia Southern University; and

Have a first reading and public hearing on an ordinance change in the flood damage prevention to delete a subsection.

During the work session, council will also discuss:

Making changes to the city’s pay classification plan; and

Authorizing the use of two city ATVs for use at the National Shrimp Festival by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber.

PLANNING COMMISSION TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

It’s a short agenda with only two action items, but a discussion period and public hearing is set for adopting a comprehensive plan for the city.

Orange Beach City Council instituted a moratorium on certain new residential development while the city develops the comp plan, which will lay out a blueprint for future growth and land use.

The other two items both concern adding storage units in the city. One request is for property on Canal Road and Lindsay Lane where All About Storage wants to add four buildings. A second, Toy Chest Garage, wants to build a gated condominium facility with six storage buildings and a clubhouse at 5616 Roscoe Road.

The planning commission meeting will be on Monday, Aug. 10, at 4 p.m. in the Orange Beach City Council Chamber. There will be no work session prior.