The 8-7 vote in favor of a ban was shy of the 10 votes needed to pass the motion, which would have amounted to a symbolic gesture. There were several abstentions, said board member Kathy Bryant-Hunter of the Transportation Committee.

"The dissenting group favored regulation rather than an outright ban," Bryant-Hunter said. "Regulation would have involved some kind of licensing requirement. But the safety was the overwhelming concern for the whole board. The issue is how can we do this (activity) safely."

Since February, the Honolulu Police Department has received dozens of complaints about kids zipping around on motorized scooters on roadways and sidewalks. Noise from the scooters is also a concern.

"Noise is a nuisance issue," Bryant-Hunter said. "We're more concerned with safety."

The Transportation Committee will continue to address the motorized scooter problem, Bryant-Hunter added.