Oshkosh advances E-Bikes & pauses ATV/UTV conversation

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WISS) – Conversations on two transportation issues within the City of Oshkosh took up a full one-third of the over three-hour meeting Tuesday night.

At issue were allowing ATV/UTV use on city streets and a proposed ordinance on electronic bikes (also called E-bikes) in the city.

ATV/UTV

At a meeting earlier this year, the Common Council referred the possibility of an ordinance allowing ATV/UTVs on city streets to the Transportation Committee. The transportation committee conducted a poll and heard from people for and against the idea. The motion to forward an ordinance allowing ATV/UTV use on city streets died in committee for lack of a second. 

Tuesday, the Common Council once again heard from residents and staff on the issue. David Schmidt of Oshkosh, President of the Fox River Wheelers and chairman of the Winnebago County ATV/UTV Alliance, asked the council to move the idea forward. 

“We encourage you to take this unique opportunity to make Oshkosh first in permitting ATV and UTVs to come into the city,” Schmidt said. “Winnebago County is unique. We have nearly 10,000 machines registered in Winnebago County, which contribute nearly $105 million to the Winnebago County economy. None of those dollars are currently coming into the city.”

Council members had reservations about allowing ATV/UTVs on city streets. The primary concern rested on whether the city could place additional restrictions on the age of operators and drivers’ license status, especially as it pertained to DUIs.

Edwin Hartman, chairman of the city’s Transportation Committee, said the committee weighed all sides.

“ The cons were more tangible than the pros. The cons were the driving while under the influence issue,” said Hartman. “We did hear from the chief in terms of some concern about additional pressure on law enforcement when they’re understaffed.”

The poll conducted by the Transportation Committee showed that 55 percent of respondents opposed ATV/UTVs on city streets. 44% of respondents were in favor.

Ultimately, the Common Council did not have the votes to move an ATV/UTV policy forward at this time.

“So at the moment, this won’t be moving forward in the city of Oshkosh,” said Oshkosh Mayor Matt Mugerauer. “That does not mean it won’t come back in the future. Could be near future – could be a little bit longer. I suspect it will come back.”

Mugerauer said in the meantime, the council will continue to work with state partners to bring state ordinances and rules forward that will allow municipalities to put safety parameters in place in ordinances for ATV/UTV usage.

E-bikes

Meanwhile, progress was made toward adopting a new ordinance addressing the use of electric bikes on city sidewalks and streets.

“ In exploring what other communities are doing. It’s not an easy fix, but we do believe we need to do something as it relates to e-bikes being on the sidewalks,” Dean Smith, Oshkosh Chief of Police, said. “We also believe that it’s important that we allow our bicycles to continue riding on the sidewalks.”

The Transportation Committee brought forward five options, ranging from allowing all bikes and e-bikes to use sidewalks to banning all bikes from sidewalks and various versions in between. It recommended Option 5, “Restrict bikes and e-bikes on sidewalks where a building abuts the sidewalk (or where a business’s ingress and egress abuts the sidewalk, which is basically the same thing). Bicycle riding on sidewalks is permitted, except as prohibited in this subsection or otherwise regulated by the municipal code.  

A memo to the council said this option would address the most significant concern: pedestrians entering and exiting buildings.

The council, after lengthy discussion, directed staff to come up with an ordinance that the council will continue at a later date.

Budget discussion and dates

In other news, the Common Council voted to approve the city’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for 2026-2035, with one amendment that reduces the budget for a joint training facility for the police and fire departments. 

The original allocation was $14 million, spread over 2026 ($4 million), 2027 ($5 million), and 2028 ($5 million). The amended CIP now allocates $2 million in 2026 and $4 million in 2027 and 2028, for a total of $10 million over the three years. 

“A little over $97 million worth of capital improvement projects in the city of Oshkosh are planned for 2026,” said Mugerauer. “It’s physical buildings, roads, utilities, vehicles, equipment, or everything that we invest in. That’s the plan for 2026.”

Budget Discussion

A public hearing on the City of Oshkosh Operations Budget is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at City Hall. Residents can view the proposed budget book on the city website.

The public hearing will be followed by a workshop to discuss a possible pedestrian bridge in the city, which was removed from the 2026 budget.

The Common Council will vote on the budget at its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 11.