We are thankful that Hughesville’s borough council is reviewing how the municipality can address the irresponsible use of e-bikes and e-scooters, as reported in last Wednesday’s edition of the Sun-Gazette.

We hope other communities take note and follow their lead.

We are confident that if people were using e-bikes and e-scooters cautiously and safely, with respect to pedestrians and motorists, that officials in Hughesville would instead be addressing other matters — even as use of the vehicles is prohibited on public roadways by state law.

We believe, having observed how riders on e-bikes and e-scooters behave in our own neighborhoods and communities that it is not any pedantic letter of the law that is prompting Hughesville to take action, but unsafe and disrespectful situations.

As Hughesville Police Chief Rod Smith said at Hughesville’s council meeting, “someone is going to get hurt.”

Riders behaving without regard for the rights of motorists and pedestrians to share roadways and sidewalks is bad enough. But the inattentive manner in which we see e-bikes and e-scooters operated puts people’s safety at risk. And municipal governments have an obligation to intervene and correct the problem before somebody gets seriously hurt.