A yearlong trial for electric bicycles will start Wednesday.
The trial is the culmination of months of meetings on whether to allow the bikes, and it was approved by the Durango City Council in June.
The council left the city’s ordinance against e-bikes in place. But councilors have previously discussed revisiting the ordinance prohibiting e-bikes after the trial period is complete.
E-bikes will be allowed on the Animas River Trail, including adjacent spur connections, Florida Road Trail and Goeglein Gulch Road Trail. The bikes will also be allowed on the snowcat trail on Chapman Hill that links Florida Road to Fort Lewis College. Otherwise, e-bikes are still prohibited on natural surface trails.
The trial is also limited to Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes. On a Class 1 e-bike, the motor kicks in when the rider starts pedaling. Class 2 e-bikes have throttles, and the motor can run independently of the rider pedaling. On both bikes, the motors cut out at 20 mph.
The city added striping along congested areas of the Animas River Trail and yield signs in preparation for the pilot program.
During meetings about a trial period, the city heard many concerns about etiquette on the trail. In response, city staff members encourage trail users to be respectful to other users and to control their speed among other common-sense measures in a public awareness campaign.
The city of Durango is also providing free bike bells at the Durango Community Recreation Center and Durango Transit Center.
During the trial period, residents are encouraged to provide the Parks and Recreation Department with feedback about the pilot program by calling 375-7321 or emailing rec@durangogov.org.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
