Major Celebrity Gives Shoutout To Arlington County

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington has caught the attention of Capt. Kirk himself after the county made the decision to allow e-bikes and e-scooters on trails and sidewalks.

The Arlington Department of Environmental Services tweeted shortly before 11 a.m. Sunday that the Arlington County Board adopted regulations that would allow people to use these popular new forms of transportation on sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes (with limitations).

William Shatner, who is currently starring in an ad campaign for Pedego electric bikes, tweeted out his gratitude minutes later.

"Well it's about time!" Shatner said in an emoji-heavy tweet. "What took you so long? I'm very happy that you are now allowing those of us who could not manage a regular bicycle access to your trails."

He also thanked Arlington County for nicknaming the amendment after him.

Well it’s about time! What took you so long? I’m very happy that you are now allowing those of us who could not manage a regular bicycle access to your trails. @PEDEGO will be very happy to hear about this as well. Thank you for nicknaming the amendment after me! https://t.co/wK19qpJBbu
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) November 17, 2019

“Arlington is all about transportation options,” Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey said in a statement. “Based on the evidence gathered during our pilot program, scooters and other micro-mobility devices are a viable transportation alternative for many. They will add another layer to the County’s multi-layered transportation network, in keeping with our goal of encouraging those who live and work in Arlington to choose an alternative to driving alone in a car.

"These regulations are meant to ensure that the devices are deployed and used in a safe and responsible way," he added.

The Board voted unanimously for the new regulations.

There will be some limitations, however, including:

• Devices will be required to have speedometers.
• Motorized scooters and skateboards will have a top speed of 15 miles per hour, and e-bicycles will have a top speed of 20 miles per hour on streets and trails.
• When operating on public sidewalks, the top speed of all the devices is restricted to six miles per hour.
• The devices will not be allowed to operate on sidewalks where a protected bicycle lane is available and may be prohibited from other sidewalks at the Manager’s discretion.