E-Bikes Survey

HB 17-1151, new Colorado legislation concerning the regulation of electric assisted bicycles (e-bikes) took effect August 9, 2017.

This new law defines classes of electrical assisted bicycles and states:

A person may ride a class 1 or class 2 electrical assisted bicycle (e-bikes with a top speed of 20 mph) on a bike or pedestrian path where bicycles are authorized to travel. 

 The bill also redefines Class 1 and 2 e-bikes as no longer being motor vehicles under state law, but affirms:

A local authority may prohibit the operations of a class 1 or class 2 electrical assisted bicycle on a bike or pedestrian path under its jurisdiction.

E-bikes are currently prohibited on the Summit County Recpath System, except for use by persons with disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The Summit County Board of County Commissioners has tasked the Open Space and Trails Department with gathering more information about e-bikes to determine if this use might be appropriate on sections of the Recpath. Our Commissioners have indicated that the status of regulations regarding e-bikes in other jurisdictions is critical to their decision-making process. We hope that you can assist us in gathering this information.  Please fill out the survey below.

Also, please let us know if you would like to know the results of this survey, and we would be happy to share them with you.

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* 1. Do the existing rules and regulations governing pedestrian and bike paths within your jurisdiction allow e-bikes?

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* 2. Please summarize the current rules and regulations governing e-bikes in your jurisdiction.

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* 3. Do your rules and regulations include certain trail criteria used to determine where e-bikes should be allowed vs. not allowed (e.g., paved pathways vs. natural surface trails)? If yes, please describe these criteria.

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* 4. Does your jurisdiction conduct enforcement of these regulations? If so, how? Please explain the enforcement agency / process:

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* 5. Is your organization considering any changes regarding the use of e-bikes on your recreational facilities? If so, please describe the issues being considered / discussed / deliberated by your policy makers.

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* 6. Has your organization gathered community input on the topic of allowing e-bikes on multi-use trails, bike trails, natural surface trails, or paved pathways?

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* 7. If yes, what was the public opinion in your jurisdiction? What methods did you use to gather public input?

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* 8. Please share any additional information about your organization’s decision to allow, prohibit, or study e-bikes (e.g., lessons learned, key challenges, recommended best practices).

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