Stay off Columbus sidewalks, scooter riders. The ban is now in effect.

Columbus issued an emergency order Tuesday banning electric scooters from riding on sidewalks and making other rules. Department of Public Service Director Jennifer Gallagher issued the order as the city administration waits for Columbus City Council to return from its summer recess and vote on permanent code changes.

>>Read more: Scooter riders beware: Scooters don't come with an insurance policy

The ban is the product of several months of debate inside City Hall, where officials have been researching the response of other cities to scooters from tech vendors Lime and Bird suddenly appearing for rent on sidewalks.

Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced last week that his administration would issue the emergency guidelines and then propose legislative changes to the city council.

“There can’t be any enforcement from a ticketing standpoint until that legislation is enacted and effective,” said Jeff Ortega, assistant director in the Department of Public Service.

Those code changes would add “e-scooters” to the city’s law that bans adults from riding bicycles on sidewalks. Police rarely invoke that violation when writing tickets, according to Franklin County Municipal Court records.

>>Read more: Scooters seemingly everywhere; regulations not so much

Since 2015, cyclists have been ticketed 240 times for riding on sidewalks, and the number of citations has dropped each year, court records show.

Riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is a minor misdemeanor. If the council approves the legislative changes, riding an electric scooter on the sidewalk also would be.

The start of emergency rules signals the beginning of an education campaign for riders to move from the sidewalks to streets, bike lanes and shared-use paths. Columbus officials said last week that the city and vendors would begin relaying the information once the emergency rules were effective.

The emergency rules also prohibit parking a scooter on a sidewalk in a way that interferes with pedestrians and on streets in a way that inhibits traffic.

>>Read more: Lime expands bike, scooter service to Ohio State

Among the other changes, the emergency order:

• Places a 20 mph speed limit on scooters.

• Requires that scooters ride only on streets with a speed limit up to 35 mph, unless they are on a bike lane or shared-use path.

• Bans scooters from freeways.

• Bans scooter parking in a way that blocks pedestrian movement.

• Allows only one person to ride on a scooter.

• Allows only two scooters to ride side by side.

• Prohibits operating an scooter while wearing earphones in both ears.

The council returns from its summer recess Monday, when the code changes for scooters are expected to appear on its agenda for a first reading. A public hearing is scheduled from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at City Hall.

A council vote on the changes is expected Sept. 24.

"Columbus is a forward-thinking city that shares Bird's vision of building a community with fewer cars, less traffic and reduced carbon emissions. We look forward to working with the city to create and enforce common-sense rules encouraging the safe use of our sustainable transportation option," a Bird spokesperson wrote in an email. "Rider education is our top priority at Bird, and we are committed to partnering with all cities to ensure that the community, and its visitors, safely embrace our affordable, environmentally friendly transportation option."

A representative from Lime did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

rrouan@dispatch.com

@RickRouan