HomeMy WebLinkAboutConstituent Letter - Read Before Packet - 2/12/2019 - Email From Bruce Henderson Re: Agenda Item #3 - E Bikes On TrailsFrom: Bruce Henderson
To: Wade Troxell; Susan Gutowsky; Ray Martinez; Ken Summers; Kristin Stephens; Ross Cunniff; Gerry Horak
Cc: Sarah Kane
Subject: Feb 12 Work Session, e-bikes on Paved Trails
Date: Saturday, February 9, 2019 10:48:54 AM
Mayor and City Council,
Here are some comments pertaining to your Feb. 12 Work Session item on the E-Bikes Pilot.
Bike Fort Collins, your local nonprofit bicycle advocacy organization, supports approval
of this proposed pilot.
Generically e-bikes eliminate an inhibitor to bicycling by providing access for people
who otherwise may not be physically capable of riding mechanical bikes. As our local
population ages, this segment continues to grow.
Statewide the use of e-bikes on trails is already allowed, and Fort Collins has fallen
behind. State Bill 17-1151, supporting class 1 and 2 e-bikes on trails, passed in Aug.
2017.
There is some public concern around e-bikes on trails, primarily focused on bicycle
speed and bicyclist's habit of not announcing their presence when passing pedestrians.
To address this Bike Fort Collins in collaboration with FC Bikes, the Parks Dept., and
several other organizations are launching a trails safety campaign focused on improving
improving trail user awareness, etiquette, and safety. This will be a positive awareness
campaign communicating consistent safety messages along with distributing free bike
bells. Our desired outcome is safer and more comfortable trail conditions that are
conducive to a variety of appropriate transportation modes.
Ignoring the trend with e-bike usage will not result in it disappearing. Both trail users
and City Staff have already observed the use of e-bikes on trails in spite of local policy.
Please support approval of this proposed pilot in a safe and collaborative environment.
Thanks for your consideration.
Bruce
Bruce Henderson
Executive Director
Bike Fort Collins
bruce.henderson@bikefortcollins.org
970-231-5219