Palmer is Committed to Working with Colorado Springs to Evaluate E-bikes

As many of our supporters are aware, the City of Colorado Springs is evaluating options to legally and safely allow electric bicycles (E-bikes) on public trails.  Currently the Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) funding program prohibits “motorized” recreation on properties acquired by the City with that funding program, which according to its plain meaning means that E-bikes are prohibited.   In addition to those restrictions, Palmer holds permanent conservation easements on several City properties where motorized use is prohibited, including Bluestem Prairie Open Space, Manitou Section 16, Red Rock Canyon Open Space, University Park (within Austin Bluffs Open Space), and the Ute Valley Park Gateway property.

For several years the City has been hearing from community advocates on all sides of the issue including Palmer Land Conservancy. Palmer recognizes that E-bikes add benefits to our community by supporting outdoor recreation, increasing accessibility, and encouraging bicycle commuting which eases traffic congestion, among other added values.  Our organization supports all of these elements and we support the voice of our community.  The TOPS program was initiated and passed by a vote of the people and any policy change has always been made through a vote of the people, which is why we fully supported City Council asking voters to amend the TOPS ordinance to allow the use of electric bikes on trails and to create rules and regulations governing the use of E-bikes.

On February 11 City Council took the first of two votes needed to make changes to City code rather than putting the issue on the April ballot.  City Council's action establishes definitions for Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 E-bikes, and declares that a Class 1 E-bike is the functional equivalent of a traditional bicycle.  City Council's action also defines "non-motorized use" to include Class 1 E-bikes, while making clear that Class 2 and Class 3 E-bikes remain motorized uses.  The next vote is scheduled for February 25, after which City Parks staff will begin working on creating rules and regulations to phase in the use of Class 1 electric bikes anywhere bicycles are currently allowed.  The City has stated that draft rules and regulations will be made available for public comment before they are promulgated. 

However, any shift in policy and procedure within the Ordinance or City Code will not automatically apply to the City properties for which Palmer holds a conservation easement. We are committed to working in partnership with the City through a formal evaluation process to ensure the most positive outcome for each individual property.  For Palmer, we will consider impacts on natural and scenic open space, wildlife habitat, aesthetic, recreational, educational, historical, aquatic, ecological, and environmental features and values.

Palmer currently supports the use of Class 1 and Class 2 E-bikes on the City's urban trails system, which includes wide, mostly paved trails that are part of the transportation system.  The use of E-bikes on single track hiking and biking trails will require additional time and attention to fully understand the impact of increased use on the landscape itself, and the ability to enforce violations and prepare users for potential conflicts with other user groups.  We appreciate that our City Parks staff will be taking a thoughtful and measured approach to determining when, how, and which electric bikes would be allowed in public parks and open spaces and for creating clear communication to users as this process unfolds.