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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 03/05/2002 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 031, 2002, AMENDIN AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 13 DATE: March 5, 2002 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL Tom Frazier FROM: Linda Dowlen SUBJECT : Second Reading of Ordinance No. 031, 2002,Amending Chapters 23 and 28 of the City Code so as to Provide for the Regulation of Electric Assisted Bicycles. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This Ordinance, which was unanimously adopted on First Reading on February 19, 2002, amends the City's Traffic Code to define the following: 1. What qualifies as an electric assisted bicycle. 2. Maximum speed capability. 3. Rules and regulations for use of these bicycles. A separate definition of electric assisted bicycle was necessary to ensure compliance with standards and safeguards such as maximum speed capability and areas of allowed use. AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 21 DATE: February 19, 2002 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL FROM: Tom Frazier Linda Dowlen SUBJECT: First Reading of Ordinance No.031,2002,Amending Chapters 23 and 28 of the City Code so as to Provide for the Regulation of Electric Assisted Bicycles. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption o e Ordi4nce o#Fi t Readin EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This item amends the City's Traffic Code to define the following: 1. What qualifies as an ele sis y 2. Maximum speed capa tty. 3. Rules and regulations' r use of ese b c py A separate definition of electric assisted bicycle is necessary to ensure compliance with standards and safeguards such as maximum speed capability and areas of allowed use.The additional language in the Code provides for the following: • Electric assisted bicycles may travel at safe speeds in the bicycle lanes along with bicycles, subject to the same rules of the road as bicycles. • Electric assisted bicycles are excluded from sidewalks and City trails. • A speed limit of 20 mph is established for electric assisted bicycles. • Operators of electric to 'c es r t t e 7years old or older. BACKGROUND: y 11 The City's Transportation Demand Management Division,while attempting to promote bicycle use to citizens to save congestion and pollution caused by single occupant vehicle travel, learned that there were no provisions for electric assisted bicycles in the Model Traffic Code. Without such a definition, electric assisted bicycles were being classified as vehicles. This not only meant that operators of electric assisted bicycles had to have all the equipment of a car on the bicycle (turn signals, brake lights, etc.),but it also required electric assisted bicycles to merge with traffic rather than remain in the safety of a bike lane on the street. A committee of TDM, Police, City Attorney and Natural Resources staff was formed to study the issue. Staff concluded that since most electric assisted bicycles can not exceed 16 miles per hour, it would be unsafe to allow them to travel in vehicle lanes with vehicles moving at 30 to 55 mph. It was also felt that electric assisted bicycles should not fall into the category of bicycles, since it was DATE: e rnary 19, ITEM NUMBER: 21 deemed unsafe for them to be on City sidewalks. In order to achieve all the objectives and best accommodate the safety concerns,a separate definition of electric assisted bicycle was drafted to be added to the Model Traffic Code and specific rights and restrictions were clarified in the Code. The Ordinance has been reviewed on three occasions by the Council Health and Safety Committee. The majority of the Committee (as well as City staff) believe that electric assisted bicycles should not be allowed on City trails,and the Ordinance has been drafted in that manner.(An exemption for wheelchairs and other assistance devices for temporarily or permanently disabled individuals was recently added to the Code.) The Committee also directed staff to include a separate provision in the Ordinance to revisit its effect one year from the date of its passage in order to determine whether the Ordinance has resulted in r ed ' ycles and, if so, whether the provisions of the Ordinance, i udin t prov 'o ha an from City sidewalks and trails, are in need of any modificati Sectio 3 of a nance lls for that annual review. These kinds of amendments to the Model Traffic Code cannot be applied to City streets until the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has had a chance to review them. If a proposed change has not been acted upon within 60 days of its submittal to CDOT,it will be allowed to take effect. The language in Section 12 of the Ordinance reflects this process. In order to promote the use of electric assisted bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation, while providing for the safety of electric bicycle users, motorists and others sharing the roadways, staff recommends that Council au=xe thisamen PY c Code.