|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
After encountering resistance from local bicyclists, Palo Alto plans to reconsider on Monday a proposal to ban e-bicycles in all open space preserves, including the Baylands.
The City Council is scheduled to discuss on Monday a recommendation from city staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission to ban e-bikes at all open space preserves, a list that includes Pearson-Arastradero Preserve, Foothills Nature Preserve, Esther Clark Park and the Baylands. The revision was sparked by a new state law, Assembly Bill 1909, that allows e-bikes of all classes to be allowed on all trails by default unless local law prohibits it.
Currently, biking is only prohibited on trails at Foothills Nature Preserve. If the council approves a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission, that ban would be extended to the other preserves, at least as far as e-bikes are concerned. In making its recommendation, commission members argued that prohibiting e-bikes at all open space preserves would give the city time to establish regulations, install signage and take other actions that would make the activity safer.
“If we are to move forward to opening unpaved trails and unpaved space to e-bikes, we have some work to do,” Chair Jeff Greenfield said at the Nov. 22 meeting, shortly before the vote.
Not everyone, however, sees it this way. Several bicyclists have lobbied the council and the commission not to extend the prohibition to the Baylands, which they argue is very different from the other open space preserves. Arthur Liberman, who serves on the Palo Alto Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, made a case for keeping the Baylands open to e-bike riders in a letter to the council. Lieberman, 82, said he regularly rides with a group of senior cyclists, some of whom have e-bikes.
While Liberman had no objections to banning e-bikes in most open space preserves, he argued that the Baylands should be treated differently — a position that is broadly shared by the bike advisory group.
“The Baylands are flat and the Baylands unpaved trails are really wide gravel roadways,” Liberman wrote. “Bicycles have been allowed on the unpaved trails in the Baylands for many years.”
He also argued that a ban on e-bikes, if enacted, would be difficult or impossible to enforce. Some e-bikes, he said, are virtually indistinguishable from manually operated bikes.
“My feeling is that the regulation might not be consistently enforceable even if Palo Alto had a force of trained rangers, and there won’t be any of them anyway,” Liberman said.
Resident Peter Mueller took issue with the ban for a different reason: it treats all e-bikes in the same way. He argued in an email to the council that “Class 1” e-bikes with “pedal assist” should continue to be allowed.
“They are basically no more risky than the large variety of other bikes which some riders drive at high speeds,” Mueller wrote.
While the council has yet to consider the issue, opponents of the proposed ban secured a small victory on Jan. 23, when the council refrained from approving the item on its “consent calendar,” which is usually reserved for noncontroversial items. Council members Pat Burt and Greg Tanaka, both avid bicyclists, joined Vice Mayor Greer Stone in pulling the item off consent and scheduling a full discussion of the topic on Feb. 27.
Right on Jeff Greenfield! Please city council keep the Bsylands free of electric bikes on trails. Art Lieberman is a gentleman but his argument is not appropriate for this environment. There is no regulating those who ride these often speeding vehicles. Please respect the provenance of the Baylands and what Lucy Evans fought for to preserve
this natural treasure.
“E-Bike” is a misnomer, these motorized vehicles more resemble motorcycles than human-powered bicycles. “E-Motorcycle” is a more accurate description of what we are dealing with here.
Whatever the name, these motorized vehicles should under no circumstances be allowed on trails, bike paths, and bike lanes. They should be allowed wherever other motorized vehicles are allowed – that means roads and freeways.
Rather than treating all bikes the same, I would suggest that not all paths/trails should be treated the same. In the Baylands, there are many trails and some could/should be available to all bikes, but some should limit bikes to enable a group of hikers and families to walk side by side without commuters and bike groups speeding by. Small children are not trail obstacles but just as valuable to needing their opportunities to have safe space to walk, hike or ride a tricycle without fear of a fast adult bike scaring them.
It is too difficult to tell whether something is an e-bike or not. In addition, limiting e-bikes would prevent seniors and others from riding in a safe manner along these trails. Rather than focusing on the type of bike, we should focus on the aspects that are objectionable or dangerous. For example, limit the speed of bikes on these open trails. If a biker is traveling at an unsafe speed, it matters little whether it’s an e-bike or regular bike. Speeding should not be allowed. Similarly, a senior traveling slowly using a pedal-assist bike should be totally fine!
I walk at Baylands all the time and very rarely if ever have had a run-in with a cyclist (I can’t remember a single incident), the trails are very suitable for biking, and pedal-assist or class 1 e-bikes should be allowed. Class 2 e-bikes should be banned because they rip up the trails and are banned in many open space areas. Now if only we could get people to keep their dogs leashed …
Electric assist are not the same as those class 2 e-bikes that might as well be motorcycles.
Like most everything, there are responsible and irresponsible. Allow bikes and all PEV’s(personal electric vehicles) and enforce the laws: 15mph, announce when passing. Good examples are the new 101 bridge and all of Shoreline Park. With all the $$$ spent on access why start to restrict it? Some maintenance helps by trimming brush & maintaining visibility, line of sight. Would strict(er) enforcement be utilized, increasing costs? What about scofflaws, seniors who are grateful for electrical assistance, physical fitness, therapy, disabilities, commuters…
There are plenty of paved trails at the Baylands for e-bikes. There is no need to allow e-bikes on the unpaved trails and there are many reasons not to. The sound and the speed would disrupt both wildlife and people. The trails are already busy with pedestrians and bird watchers and joggers and dogs. Bikes will create worse ruts in the unpaved roads when wet and they have already created new off-the-path trails. Those who think the city is going to be able enforce the difference between different classes of bikes are deluded. It would be a mistake to allow e-bikes on unpaved trails in the Baylands.
Don’t allow e-bikes in the Baylands, period! They sneak up on you silently and fast and you have no time to react. And regarding seniors needing to ride e-bikes — the Baylands are flat — a senior can manage just fine on a regular bike. Bikers must respect the tranquility and safety of our precious Baylands. I’m a senior (74), a biker, and I know.
I see very little difference between E bikes and pedal bikes. Both are silent. Both disregard traffic rules. And both can be very fast particularly in an open trail on flat Baylands.
I’d recommend that they just enforce a 15mph speed limit for any and all non-ICE modes of travel (electric or human powered) on trails. I don’t own an e-bike, but many of my friends and neighbors have them. We often take weekend rides together in the Baylands. This proposed rule would make some of our favorite rides unavailable. I bike a lot, and I bike commute. If I ever develop health problems, I’ll be getting an e-bike too.
When I’m hiking, I don’t want to be run over by a bike. I hike with family members who are over 70 years old. A collision could literally fatally injure them. Is that difficult to understand?
Class 1 eBikes are no different than regular bikes. They are pedal assist, have no throttle and have an upper limit to the speed equal to the top speed of a road bike. They are not at all like a motorcycle. Therefore, if a Class 1 eBike is banned then all bikes should be banned. Doing otherwise would be discriminating against elderly and those with health issues that need the assist of a Class 1 eBike.
Hello Neighbors, I am 66 years old and a longtime Palo Alto resident. I am an avid cyclist. I purchased an eBike (electric assist) primarily as a fitness tool, one that augments my capabilities. I ride that bike everywhere, off-road and on. I am a courteous and responsible rider. When I pass hikers I slow do own and announce myself. I never want to startle or threaten anyone. I don’t believe that ebikes cause excessive wear to dirt tracks when ridden responsibility. I’d like to suggest that more effort be made to educate riders (eBike or otherwise). Signage is a first step. Enforcement of rules will also a means to educate. Happy to take part in this discussion. Have a pleasant day.
Equating e-bikes to ICE vehicles or motorcycles is flawed logic. E-Bikes are quiet. They have speed/assist limits. They have bicycle wheels and frames, meaning they are not 600 lb of roaring metal and chrome. A fit cyclist can pedal a non-motorized bike the same speeds as most e-bikes.
Open spaces need support. Support comes from people using the parks. IF there is concern over speed and mixed use, then post signs. Limiting bikes to the wider gravel roads is a common practice.
I walk these spaces a couple times a month and have NEVER been disturbed by cyclist, ebike or otherwise.
So will they employ someone on a pedal bike to ride the trails to monitor this?
Either all bikes or no bikes!
E-bikes should be illegal in all the open space preserves.
I have several reasons why:
I have read scary news about a Southern CA city that has had a wearying fight trying to corral these e-bikes and their violations. Surfers insist they must have e-bikes to carry their boards to the beach. Ridiculous! Injuries and collisions occur. Enforcement is virtually impossible (speed, variety of e-bike, etc., etc.)
Please, do not allow e-bikes in the Baylands in particular.
It doesn’t matter if they’re noisy or noiseless. Some of us do have personal experiences walking and being overtaken from behind by e-bikes, and at a minimum it’s threatening.
Let’s maintain our open space preserves.
The Baylands are a bird and animal sanctuary, not a motorbike joint.
Please don’t restrict the bayland to able-walking people–I am a disabled 66 year old–I can’t walk or ride regular bikes I have there. I purchased a $15,000 Specialized Levo S-Works pedal assist to assist me so I can ride there again and see the seasons change like I did before my stroke. Now there’s finally a bridge over the freeway. Please do take that beautiful biking experience from me and others like me.
It’s fair to assume that most drivers know the speed limit on freeways is 65mph yet the marjority of drivers go over that limit, even though roads are patrolled by highway patrol. Now look at a bike trails at the baylands: there is a posted speed limit and zero patrolling. I’ve been on those trails for years. Bikers rarely announce themselves, they come upon pedestrians and slower bikers (like me) and startle them. When motor-driven skateboards appeared they added to this problem These skateboards can go very fast — I’ve never heard one user announce themselves, they pass bikes in an unsafe manner. My point is many riders ride fast, don’t announce themselves and are inconsiderate. I go to the Baylands for the peace it provides. Instead, I now sometimes feel I’m on a freeway with completely inconsiderate drivers. Any attempt at enforcement and education will be futile. Many bike riders and skateboard riders don’t follow simple already posted rules. Increased effort will add cost and no result.
this discussion reminds me of the doom and gloom fear mongering around opening up foothills nature preserve to non-residents. haven’t heard how the ‘out of towners’ have ruined the preserve in a while.
No, this is not the same situation as fear mongering regarding Foothill Park. The Baylands trails are mixed use trails allowing pedestrians and bikes. Rules are posted regarding announcing oneself when passing etc. These are safety issues. There is the potential for injury when, for example, a bicyclist passes another bicyclist without announcing. That’s just one example.
Anyone else out there as tired as I am of the few ruining things for the many?