OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The city has placed 160 yard signs around Overland Park this summer that pair straightforward safety language with internet memes and teen slang in an effort to curb risky behavior by riders of electric bikes and scooters.
Signs aim to reach younger riders where they pay attention
Meg Ralph, the city’s director of strategic communications, said staff members tapped younger colleagues to help craft the messages. One side of the signs presents instructions in plain English, while the reverse uses slang and pop-culture images to speak to teenagers and young adults.
"Why is Kermit on a scooter in the woods? To tell you the truth, I don't know the answer to that question, but the 24-year-old told me it was cool, so we put it on there," Ralph said.
Examples of how the city paired messages include a sign that on one side reads, "Bikes and scooters, yield to people on the path," and on the other, "Fam plz move over for walkers," accompanied by a cat meme. A helmet message that reads "Wear a helmet. Every time." is mirrored on the other side as "Helmets on for aura points," decorated with sparkly emoji.
New rules, enforcement and placement target hotspots
The signs are one element of a broader response to growing numbers of teenagers using electric scooters and e-bikes and to complaints of unsafe riding. This summer the city adopted rules that establish a 15-mile-per-hour speed limit for electric micromobility devices and require riders under 16 to wear helmets.
Ralph said officials placed the signs in locations that have generated the most police calls about dangerous electric bike and scooter behavior. "It's basically like, 'That kid just went flying by me on the trail,'" she said, describing the kinds of complaints the city has received. The goal, she added, is to prompt riders to pause and think about wearing a helmet or slowing down when passing someone on a shared path.
- 160 yard signs installed across the city
- 15 mph speed limit for electric bikes and scooters
- Helmet requirement for riders under 16
Communicating safety without alienating the audience
Ralph acknowledged that not all city staff are fluent in the memes and slang being used, but said the tactic is intended to attract attention and make riders consider safer choices. While the language is playful on one side of the signs, the other side gives clear instructions so older or less meme-literate residents also understand the guidance.
Officials said they view the campaign as an experiment in communications and public education. The approach blends behavioral nudges with visible reminders at places where conflicts between riders and pedestrians have occurred.
| Message focus | Plain wording | Slang/meme wording |
|---|---|---|
| Yielding to pedestrians | Bikes and scooters, yield to people on the path | Fam plz move over for walkers |
| Helmet use | Wear a helmet. Every time. | Helmets on for aura points |
City officials did not release any enforcement figures tied to the new rules or a timeline for evaluation of the sign campaign. For now, the effort is focused on capturing attention and encouraging voluntary compliance among younger riders who may be new to shared trails or inexperienced with higher-speed electric devices.
As electric micromobility remains popular across the Kansas City area and beyond, local jurisdictions are wrestling with how best to balance access, convenience and safety. Overland Park officials said they will monitor complaints and calls for service to determine whether additional outreach, signage or enforcement will be necessary.
Residents with concerns about specific locations or incidents are encouraged to contact the city's communications or police departments so staff can consider additional placement of signs or targeted enforcement where problems persist.
