Boulder Open Space Mountain Parks Trustees consider ebike alternatives

The City of Boulder's Open Space Mountain Parks (OSMP) Board of Trustees held a virtual hearing Dec. 14 to hear from members of the public about the city OSMP staff recommendation to change the rules about where e-bikes are allowed on city-owned open space.

Karen Hollweg chaired the meeting, which included Trustees Jon Carroll, Dave Kuntz and Caroline Miller. The Trustees will meet Jan. 11, 2023, to consider making a recommendation to the Boulder City Council concerning e-bikes on open space trails.

Marni Ratzel of city OSMP staff presented the staff recommendation before the public comments were taken. In support of the staff recommendation to allow Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on open space trails as passive recreation, she noted that doing so would "improve access for community members of more ages and abilities to enjoy open space trails, provide consistent visitor experience across interconnected trails, ....and support broader city climate goals."

Class 1 e-bikes provide an electrical assist while riders pedal, while Class 2 e-bikes also assist with a throttle, but both assists end when speed reaches 20 miles per hour.

Jeff Curry, a veteran mountain bike rider and now a mountain e-bike rider, spoke first as an advocate for e-bikes, and noted that Jefferson County has opened up all of their trails. He asked, "Do we want more people using the trails or not?"

David Brode, a 25-year resident of Boulder and open space supporter, also spoke in favor of allowing e-bikes. Brode said, "I'm an aging athlete. My opinion is e-bikes are bikes." He felt that alternative A, which is the staff alternative allowing the most trail use by e-bikes, doesn't go far enough.

Many of the opposing comments brought up concerns that allowing e-bikes would negatively impact their own use of the trails. Jean Aschenbrenner said she had been hiking on Boulder trails for over 40 years. She opposed the expansion, and said, "Something else will have to suffer. I like hiking. Bikes do more damage to trails than hikers do. Old people can't control the bikes as well and will fall."

Sallie Greenwood, who hikes on the trails, was opposed to allowing e-bikes, citing concerns about speed. Hiker Kathleen Ashworth, 75, was opposed, saying that "mountain bikers don't announce their presence."

Andrew Bernstein, who described himself as an adaptive athlete since an injury in 2019, said, "I use an e-bike to enjoy cycling. I look forward to seeing more access." Peter Wessel, in his late 60s, said he purchased an e-bike after open heart surgery and that it assisted him in his recovery.

Gary McClelland, who described himself as 75 years old with artificial knees, said he has walked and biked the trails for 50 years. He favored allowing e-bikes, and said, "Proposition B is a great start forward." Proposition B would allow e-bikes on many open space trails, and is the alternative supported by OSMP staff.

Rachel Fussell of People for Bikes in Boulder also supported alternative B. She suggested that Boulder ought to look at what other states have done in expanding e-bike use. Wendy Sweet of the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance, also supported alternative B, citing the study done in 2019 by Boulder County which concluded that e-bikes should be allowed on most county trails. She indicated that increased regional connectivity would result if e-bikes were allowed.

Currently, the county-owned portions of the LoBo Trail allow e-bike use, but two stretches which are located on Boulder city-owned open space, one in Gunbarrel, and one as the trail crosses under Highway 52 healing from Niwot to Gunbarrel, do not currently allow e-bikes.

Joe Hair spoke in favor of the e-bike proposal, and also had his two young sons briefly testify. Chuck Sanson, a self-described "aging cyclist," Brad Fountain, a biker in his 70s, and Marcus Popetz, citing equity concerns, all spoke in support of alternative A.

Richard Harris, who indicated that he was a co-chair of Plan Boulder County, was adamant that e-bikes should not be allowed. Harris said, "The surveys are an insult. It's absurd to classify e-bikes as non-motorized. Twenty miles per hour is just too fast."

State law in Colorado was amended several years ago to provide that e-bikes are not motorized vehicles under state law, but to date, the City of Boulder has not changed its regulations.

Following the Jan. 13 meeting and recommendation to the city council by the OSMP Board of Trustees, the city council will conduct a hearing and make a decision. No date for the city council meeting has been set.