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Home My WebLink AboutMemo - Mail Packet - 3/31/2020 - Memorandum From Paul Sizemore, Tessa Greegor Re: E-Bike Paved Trail Pilot Program UpdateDepartment Name Address Line 1 Address Line 2 PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.000.0000 970.000.0000 - fax fcgov.com FC Moves City of Fort Collins 281 North College Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.2628 fcgov.com/fcmoves MEMORANDUM DATE: March 26, 2020 TO: Mayor Troxell and City Councilmembers THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager Caryn Champine, PDT Director Dean Klingner, PDT Deputy Director FROM: Paul Sizemore, FC Moves, Senior Manager Tessa Greegor, FC Moves, Active Modes Manager SUBJECT: E-bike Paved Trail Pilot Program Update Bottom Line: A one-year pilot program, which has allowed Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on Fort Collins paved trails, is coming to completion on April 30, 2020. Staff has found no major issues associated with allowing e-bikes on paved trails at this time, and public input has indicated support for allowing e-bikes on paved trails. Staff will present recommended City and Traffic Code updates to City Council on April 7, 2020 to allow Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on paved trails following the completion of the pilot program. Background: In 2017, Colorado House Bill 17-1151, “Concerning the Regulation of Electric-assist Bicycles,” was passed into law; this law established three classes of e-bikes and further allowed the operation of Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on bike or pedestrian paths unless local authorities restrict such use (which was the case in Fort Collins at the time). As a result of this State law or subsequent local regulations, many Colorado jurisdictions now allow e-bikes on paved trails, including our neighboring jurisdictions – Loveland, Larimer County and Boulder County. Definition of Electric-Assist Bicycle: a bicycle with two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, and an electric motor. • Class 1 E-bike: Provides electrical assistance only while the rider is pedaling, up to 20 mph. • Class 2 E-bike: Provides electrical assistance regardless if the rider is pedaling or not, up to 20 mph. In April 2019, Fort Collins City Council approved a one-year pilot program allowing Class 1 and Class 2 e- bikes on paved multiuse trails. Prior to this, e-bikes (although legal on streets and in bike lanes) were only allowed on paved trails for people with disabilities. The one-year pilot program commenced May 1, 2019 and will end April 30, 2020. The pilot program included education and outreach, and data collection to assess public opinions and impacts associated with allowing e-bikes on paved trails to assess public opinions on allowing e-bikes on paved trails and to evaluate associated impacts. E-Bike Pilot Program Data Collection and Outreach Methods: • Public surveys and questionnaires • Bicyclist speed snapshots • Annual trail counts including e-bike observations DocuSign Envelope ID: 7E83F40E-EC973172-1DBC-C988-48BC-4D16-B20A-9E4A-DF2F3F3C1868 95538B0FB18D Department Name Address Line 1 Address Line 2 PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.000.0000 970.000.0000 - fax fcgov.com FC Moves City of Fort Collins 281 North College Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.2628 fcgov.com/fcmoves • Observations and feedback from City Rangers • Feedback from City Departments • Access Fort Collins and incident reports • Other feedback (community partners, bike shops) • Literature Review (led by Boulder County with funding provided by the City of Fort Collins) • Education and outreach conducted on trails, at events, online, and through local partners Summary of Pilot Program Findings: • Public Opinions: With over 1,100 survey responses received, the majority indicated support for allowing Class 1 e-bikes on paved trails (53% support, 15% oppose). A slightly higher percentage of respondents indicated supporting Class 2 e-bikes on paved trails over opposing them (36% support, 28% oppose), however the level of support was lower in comparison to Class 1 e-bikes. Comments: The primary reasons people indicated support for e-bikes on paved trails were: provides support for those needing additional assistance, no difference from a regular bike, and supports alternative transportation. The primary reasons people indicated opposing e-bikes on paved trails were: concerns over safety and speed, perspectives of e-bikes being a motorized vehicle, and impact to trail experiences. • E-bike use: Although increasing, e-bikes remain a small percentage of bicycle use in Fort Collins. September trail count data showed 1.2% of bicyclists using e-bikes. Survey results indicated the majority of e-bike owners are 50+ years of age, and report bicycling more and replacing car trips with their e-bike. Local bike shops reported increased e-bike sales and indicated selling mostly Class 1 e- bikes. • Crashes: City departments did not receive reports of e-bike crashes on the paved trails. Recognizing trail-related crashes may go unreported, the trail survey asked respondents to indicate if they had experienced a trail crash in the past 6 months. One person (of 427 responses) indicated experiencing an e-bike related crash. • E-bike Related Trail Conflicts: Out of 235 trail survey responses, three respondents (1.3%) indicated experiencing conflict with an e-bike user that day. 90% of respondents reported not experiencing conflict on the trail that day. • Bicycle Speed Snapshots: Bicyclist speeds were assessed at multiple locations and during different time periods and days. In total, 1,157 bicyclists were observed including 16 e-bicyclists. The average speed for all bicyclists was 11.93 mph with a max observed speed of 24 mph. The average speed for e-bicyclists was 15.63 mph with a max observed speed of 23 mph. The low sample size for e-bike observations suggests a need to continue monitoring speeds while also conducting education on safe trail speeds for all bicyclists. • Trail Experience: Surveys were used to assess quality of trail experience as well as the impact of e- bikes to users’ experience. Overall trail experience was rated high by trail users. For trail users who observed e-bikes during the day of the trail survey, very few rated those encounters as negative. • Trail Ranger Observations: Parks and Natural Areas Rangers were asked to provide reports of incidents involving e-bikes. While Rangers did observe e-bikes on the paved trails, no e-bike safety incidents were reported by the Rangers on the paved trails. • Access Fort Collins Reports: During the pilot program, approximately 25 emails or Access reports were submitted to staff with some indicating support for e-bikes and some expressing concerns or negative experiences with e-bikes on the trails. • Feedback from Police Services: Police Services indicated that allowing e-bikes on paved trails has not been an issue from their experience and they support continuing to allow them. Department Name Address Line 1 Address Line 2 PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.000.0000 970.000.0000 - fax fcgov.com FC Moves City of Fort Collins 281 North College Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.2628 fcgov.com/fcmoves Board / Commission Recommendations Staff presented the results of the pilot program to the following City Boards, Commissions and Committees, with their recommendations outlined in the table below: Table 1: Boards & Commissions Recommend allowing Class 1 e-bikes on paved trails • Senior Advisory Board (recommended that e-bike users are insured) • Land Conservation and Stewardship Board • Natural Resources Advisory Board Recommend allowing Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on paved trails • Parks and Recreation Board (recommended ongoing monitoring) • Transportation Board • Bicycle Advisory Committee • Youth Advisory Board (also supported Class 3 e-bikes if they can be programmed to 20 mph top speed) No Action Taken • Commission on Disability Meeting Postponed • Air Quality Advisory Board Conclusions and Staff Recommendations: E-bikes provide mobility, sustainability, and health benefits, and can help Fort Collins achieve its Climate Action and transportation goals. Further, as the region continues to connect the paved trail network, consistently allowing e-bikes on paved trails across jurisdictions offers people the option to commute longer distances by bike and increases access to recreation opportunities. The information collected during the pilot program and relevant research informed staff’s recommendation to allow Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on paved trails following the completion of the pilot program. This recommendation was developed in partnership with multiple City Departments, including FC Moves, Parks, Park Planning and Development, Natural Areas, and Police Services. While staff’s recommendation is to allow the use of e-bikes on paved trails, broader concerns were raised during this process. These concerns include: future trail safety and user experience, the use of other e- devices, enforcement expectations, future impacts to the trail system, and potential impacts to vulnerable populations. The following primary strategies are recommended to address these questions and concerns and maintain a positive experience for all trail users: • Conduct ongoing trail use and safety monitoring • Continue trail user education and outreach including the installation of permanent signs • Utilize upcoming trail plan updates to determine future trail management strategies For additional information, please contact Tessa Greegor at tgreegor@fcgov.com or visit fcgov.com/ebikes. DocuSign Envelope ID: 7E83F40E-EC973172-1DBC-C988-48BC-4D16-B20A-9E4A-DF2F3F3C1868 95538B0FB18D DocuSign Envelope ID: 7E83F40E-EC973172-1DBC-C988-48BC-4D16-B20A-9E4A-DF2F3F3C1868 95538B0FB18D