HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/21/2011 - E-Bikes On Trails - Air Quality Advisory Board
Natural Resources Department
215 North Mason
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6600
970.224.6177 Fax
fcgov.com/naturalresources
M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Mayor Weitkunat and Councilmembers
FROM: Greg McMaster, Chair, Air Quality Advisory Board
CC: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Marty Heffernan, CPRE Director
Craig Foreman, Director of Park Planning and Development
Lucinda Smith, AQAB Staff Liaison
DATE: June 21, 2011
SUBJECT: AQAB Recommendations on E-Bikes on Trails
______________________________________________________________________________
The AQAB has carefully considered the question whether e-bikes should be allowed on Fort
Collins trails at several meetings. We are fully aware that there are both many positives and
negatives in allowing e-bikes on our city trails, making this a difficult decision.
At our June 20, 2011 meeting the AQAB developed the following recommendation on the E-
Bikes on Trails for your consideration.
No vote concerns include:
It is a slippery slope to put motorized vehicles on recreational trails; the City should
encourage e-bikes on streets for commuting.
It is a slippery slope that there is no good motivation to adopt. There are concerns of
speed, safety, increased volume of e-bikes; and the enforcement cost issue.
Allowing e-bikes on the bike trails is an unacceptable slippery slope. E-bikes will get
faster as most trail traffic remains slow, whether bicycling or pedestrians. Allowing e-
bikes may lead to allowing other motorized vehicles in the future. The presence of e-
Dave Dietrich moved and Nancy York seconded the following motion:
Given the uncertainty and concerns on how e-bikes will/will not work on our trails, the
AQAB recommends that e-bikes are allowed on the Spring Creek and Mason Corridor
trails for a 1-yr trial period following the establishment of a comprehensive operational
plan, at which time Council re-considers the matter.
Motion passed 5-3-1
2
bikes and likely more of them in the future is reason to further enhance the bike lanes (on
streets).
Reason for YES votes include:
Benefits of e-bikes include providing another alternative to the automobile and a
lower carbon footprint.
There is little difference between bikes and e-bikes.
The AQAB supports only a one year trial because it is sufficient to test e-bikes in all seasons and
to prompt timely, efficient data collection, but not so long that users will take it as a given right
that would be difficult to rescind after three years (as recommended by other boards).
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for the opportunity to
provide input on the E-bikes on Trails issue.