Results compiled from a two-year trial study about whether to allow e-bikes on trails at Twin Buttes reveal a majority of residents are in favor of the popular new bikes.
After the survey period ended in November, the city sent data from the survey to Fort Lewis College to be analyzed.
Paul Clay, associate dean of the School of Business, said 237 trail users completed the survey during the two-year trial period at Twin Buttes.
Of those surveyed, 83% were bike riders, 3% were e-bike riders, 12% were hikers and 2% were runners.
Clay said the big question to focus on from the survey was whether those surveyed were against or in favor of e-bikes. Survey results showed 57% of those surveyed said they would like e-bikes on the trails, and 43% said they would not like to allow e-bikes on the trails.
“The core question from the survey is really question two, which is really why we’re all here,” he said. “Overall, 57% of all people that were surveyed thought that e-bikes should be allowed on the Twin Buttes trail system. For me, that’s the primary takeaway from this survey.”
In addition to the data collected at the Twin Buttes trail, the city received about 130 emails from residents in support of or against allowing e-bikes on soft-surface trails.
Durango’s Parks and Recreation, Natural Lands Preservation and Multimodal Advisory boards held a joint meeting Wednesday about whether to permanently allow e-bikes on Twin Buttes trails.
“We really wanted to just share our new information from the survey so that our three boards can have some general discussion,” said Parks and Recreation Director Ture Nycum.
A motion to support continued e-bike use at Twin Buttes was brought before the three boards near the end of the meeting, but it was tabled so each board could make a decision on its own.
The type of e-bikes in question are Class 1 pedal-assist, electric-motorized mountain bicycles, which are pedal-assisted up to 20 mph.
Public comments at the meeting were overwhelmingly in support of allowing e-bikes on city trails.
Those in favor of e-bikes spoke about how they allow for people with physical limitations to use and explore local trails. Those who are against the bikes have concerns about the speed of e-bikes on trails, and the etiquette of riders.
At the meeting, a subcommittee between the three boards was formed to work on allowing e-bikes on local trail systems other than Twin Buttes. One of the big things that needs to be looked at to allow e-bikes on trails outside Twin Buttes is how it will work with conservation easements that certain trails have.
“We’re wanting some clarification on those conservation easements, and what they mean moving forward if we decide we want to allow e-bikes on more trails,” Nycum said. “There are no conservation easements at Twin Buttes.”
E-bikes remain allowed at Twin Buttes because a recommendation and decision is under discussion.
njohnson@durangoherald.com
