7 - Items for Discussion/Information, WIP of 02/14/02,.-,. WEEKLY INFORMATION PACKET
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To: Mayor Will Toor and Members of Ciry Council
Fmm. Ron Secrist, City Manager
Chnstine Andersen, Deputy City Manager for Environmental Services
Tracy Win&ee, Public Works Duector for Transporfation
Michael Sweeney, Traffic Operahons and Planning Coordmator
Marni Ratzel, Transportahon Planner
Date• February 14, 2002
Sub~ect: Information Item: Electric-assisted bicycle ordinance
PURPOSE:
Tlus memorandum presents a status on amendwg the Boulder Revised Code to pernut the use of
electnc-assisted, pedal-powered bicycles (herein referred to as "electrio-assisted bicycles") on off-
street bicycle facilities.
BACKGROUND:
In July 1999, the Transportahon Advisory Boazd (TAB) origmally considered a recommendahon
~ proposed by staff to proceed with an ordinance revision tl~at would allow the use of elec~ic-assisted
,,~ bicycles on both on-street and off-street bicycle facilities in the city of Boulder. The TAB held public
heanngs and discussed the pmposed ordinance at its meetings convened in July, August and September
1999. Duruig the TAB public heanngs, there were several speakers who supported allowing eleciric-
ass~sted bicycles on both off- and on-sh~eet facilihes However, some cihzens and TAB members raised
concems over the vanous users on the multi-use patUs and possible safety issues arising &om allow~ng
the electnc-assisted bicycles on the paths. At the September 1999 meehng, the Board voted (5-0) to
recommend allowing the use of elecmc-assisted bicycles on the on-street facilihes (bike lanes) and to
review in one year the use of electric-assisted bicycles on multi-use paths.
This summer, the Transportation Advisory Boazd (TAB) requested staff review and recommendahon of
the existing ordmance adopted m 1999. To date, staff has presented informahon about the electric-
assisted bicycles and panc~ipated in a pubhc hesrmg process hosted by two of the tluee affected
Advisory Boazds appomted by City Council These aze the Transportation Advisory Boazd and Parks
and Recreation Boazd. The Open Space Boazd of Trustees has not yet taken up the issue.
On Monday October 8, 2001, the Transportation Advisory Board approved a motion 41 ~n favor of
the recommendahon to amend the code and suggested that, should City Council appmve a code
amendment, the ordmance should be revisited in one-year to assess its impacts and address adverse
impacts, as necessary.
On Monday, January 29, 2002, the Parks and Recreahon Advisory Boazd voted nna,,,mously agawst
recommend~ng a change in the code, with the exception that a strategy to accommodate persons with
disabihties should be recognized. Pnmanly, the Boazd felt that current congesuon on the paths was
not conducive to add~ng another use. Some Boazd members razsed the issue of whether to consider
pmlubidng electric-assisted bicycles from only those path segments that aze more congested.
~' However, addrtional discussion resolved that there ~s a need to review existing data and collect
`"' supplemental data to assess the feasibility / desirability of considering an amendment to allow
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elechic-assisted bicycles to operate on any of the patUs Data requested mcludes path use, crash / '~'
conflict experience, and variations in surface treatrneat types and path widths. °~'
Though yet to schedule the topic on its meehng agenda, the Open Space Board of Trustees as well as
Open Space staff have expressed concem for the impact that the pmposed ordmance amendment, as
approved by TAB, would impose on hails unda the jurisdiction of Open Space. Issues raued to date
include ordmance language, apphcability, enforcement and vehicle classification as well as whether to
consider prolubiUng electric-assisted bicycles &om operahng on soft surface paths.
PUBLIC INPUT
Transportahon staff has received wntten correspondence from over 40 cihzens Letters m support are
almost matched by those in opposition to amendwg the code. &milarly, pubhc testimonies given at
public heanngs have exlubited conflicting opmions among the publiq with more ciUzens testifying ~n
opposition to the code amendment. Those in opposition expressed that elec~c-assisted bicycles
would adversely ~mpact the quahty of hfe on Boulder's multi-use hails and increase conflicts and
congestion along the system. Those m support indicated the need to encourage altemahve modes of
transportahon and increase accessibility for all including the less able-bodied populahon
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
In response to the Parks and Recreation Board's concerns, staff recommends that the ordinance
revision be placed on hold until issues related to congeshon and exishng conflicts on the paths aze
addressed Staff proposes to launch an educational outreach campaign to encourage responsible trail
usage on paths that already receive heavy pedeshian and bicycle traffic. "Courtesy is Contagious" is a
potential tag line for the theme of the campaign Staff also will work with the community, Boulder
Pohce Department and City Attorney's Office as necessary to develop addihonal strategies to improve """~
safety on the paths. ""
Additionally, staff seeks to convene interdepartmental meetings to discuss the scope and schedule of
planned and proposed pm~ects in support of bicycle and pedestrian modes. It is proposed that staff
representahves from city of Boulder Transportation, Pazks and Recreation, and Mountam Parks and
Open Space and county of Boulder Transpor~auon and Open Space be invrted to panc~ipate It ~s
anhcipated that the meetings would be convened quarterly The primary ob~echves aze to ~mpmve
commuiucahon and coordmation of pro~ects, and to pnontize the plamm~g and development oF
mterdepartmental and regional facility improvements and supplemental programs m support of
bicycle and pedestnan modes.
Staff plans to urihate the educahonal outreach campazgn unless concems aze razsed by Council The
a~m is to launch the campaign ~n June as a component of Bike Month and Walk and Bike Week. Staff
anhcipates that the hme frame for reconsidering an ordwance for electric-assist bicycles would be one
year to 18 months. Please duect any comments or queshons to Mami Ratzel by e-mail at
ratzelmnn ci boulder.co us or by telephone at 441-4138.
CC Open Space Boazd of Trustees
Pazks and Recreahon Advisory Board
Transportahon Advisory Boazd
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