The Council is considering an amendment to a city centre protection order to improve the safety of people in pedestrianized areas of the city centre.
The Council and Police have received reports of safety concerns from residents and visitors. These range from the speed of E-bikes, pedal cycle and E-scooters to obstructions in public walkways and collisions.
Changes to the current City Centre Public Space Protection Order would allow Police Officers and Law Enforcement Officers to issue fines to people who ride E-bikes, pedal cycles, E-scooters through the City Centre.
A consultation is underway to see what people think. It will run until 9 October.
A key part of the order will be to benefit pedestrians who feel unsafe when walking and travelling in pedestrianised areas of the city centre.
The amendment to the PSPO will mean cyclists and users of E-bikes and E-scooters will have to dismount in pedestrianised areas. The penalty for breaching a PSPO is a fine of up to £100 or prosecution.
Cllr Patricia Hetherton, Cabinet Member for City Services, said: "I speak to lots of people who feel very nervous walking and travelling in the city centre because of the behaviour of some cyclists and other types of e-bikes and riders.
"We want to consult on this and welcome what people have to say. We want riders to dismount in pedestrian areas so people feel able to travel safely. I want myself and others to feel safe."
See the city centre map on our Let's Talk Page to see the area affected.
An order is created by a Council ("the Council") under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, Section 59 ("the Act"), PSPOs work in specific geographical areas where there has been detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality, or that an activity is persistent or continuing nature, is, or is likely to be, such as to make the activities unreasonable, and justifies the restrictions imposed by the Order.
The City Centre Public Space Protection Order was first introduced in October 2017 to help reduce anti-social behaviour and speed up enforcement activities – where the behaviour has been persistent.
The proposals follow work that is already underway by West Midlands Police and the Council and the city's Business Improvement District to educate riders about the legal use of e-bikes including e-bike food delivery riders via licensed food premises to inform them of the legal situation and then to enforce the laws that are already in place.
Cllr Abdul Salam Khan, Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, said: "We want to improve the quality of life for everyone. There has been an increase in the numbers of E-bikes, pedal cyclists and E-scooters due to their popularity in the city and this is part of the reason why the amendment is needed.
"The order has worked well over the past six years and has been managed in a considered way. Pedestrians tend to be the most vulnerable and it's important that we all take this on board."
A fixed penalty fine will be issued to any person who does not comply with the order and if that is not paid they will be prosecuted.
West Midlands Police, the Council and the Coventry Business Improvement District are all supporting the changes.
The public consultation is starting today for four weeks and can be accessed via the Council's Let's Talk website. Paper copies will also be available at the Council House reception and Central Library.