Some city advisory committee members see electric bikes as a form of clean, quiet transportation that could take cars off the roads. But they are unsure how they should be regulated.
E-bikes are illegal on all city trails including the Animas River Trail, and board members want to make sure if they are allowed the rules would balance safety concerns of all user groups, including pedestrians.
“When pedestrians are on the river trail, they are having an experience that is being eroded by the amount of traffic,” said Mark Smith, Natural Lands Advisory Board representative.
Representatives from the Multimodal Advisory Board, the Natural Land Preservation Advisory Board and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on Wednesday agreed e-bikes should be allowed on the Animas River Trail, but they didn’t land on a solution to regulate the new technology.
The e-bike subcommittee agreed to meet again in December after getting feedback from their respective boards.
The Durango City Council will have to approve any changes to e-bike rules, but these board members must come with a recommendation for councilors.
Speed limits for all cyclists could be one solution because that is one of the main reasons pedestrians are uncomfortable with bicycles.
“I’d like to see the emphasis put on speed. I think that is a very natural way to address a lot of these issues,” said Spencer Compton, a representative from the Multimodal Advisory Board.
But speed limits would be difficult to enforce because the Durango Police Department doesn’t have staff levels to regulate river trail speeds, Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Metz said.
Striping to separate modes of travel, signs to indicate areas of high traffic or narrow sections could also aid with safety, board members said.
No matter the recommendation, Metz would like to see the solution introduced for a one-year trail. “That way it gives us a chance to check it out, and refine it, and understand it,” she said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
Poll: Should e-bikes be allowed on the Animas River Trail?
Yes - 253 - 20.52%
No - 724 - 58.72%
Yes, but with speed limits - 256 - 20.76%
