Larimer County will allow residents with a mobility disability to use e-bikes on soft surface trails that allow bicycles starting July 1.
The Larimer County Department of Natural Resources announced the change on Monday after analyzing public input collected over the past three years and the results of a pilot program at Devil’s Backbone Open Space that wrapped up in February.
Previously, the county allowed e-bikes only on paved trails at its parks and open spaces.
Since 2011, the county has had a policy in place that allows for mobility assistance devices on all trails and open spaces. Those allowable devices are being expanded to include Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes.
“I’ve always tried to find ways for everyone to enjoy these open spaces and this is just another way to expand that for folks who might not have that opportunity,” county commissioner Kristin Stephens said.
Those without mobility issues can use Class 1 and 2 e-bikes on all paved trails but not on soft surface trails at Larimer County’s parks and open spaces.
Both classes of e-bikes are capped at 20 mph and have different levels of pedal assist.
The county considered public opinion, including the desire for greater accessibility for those with disabilities, as well as e-bikes as alternative forms of transportation on paved and regional trails and consistency of regulations across city and county trails.
A group of Loveland residents approached the county commissioners and the Department of Natural Resources in 2019 to ask that e-bikes be allowed, saying they are not noisy and do not damage trails and allow those who may need a little help pedaling to remain active and cycling.
Since then, county officials have been studying the potential impacts and benefits of allowing e-bikes on soft-surface trails on which regular mountain bikes were allowed, and in 2020, launched a pilot project by allowing a limited number of these e-bikes at the Devil’s Backbone.
During that time, the county sought public input through two online surveys. Overall, 64% of the more than 2,000 responses opposed allowing e-bikes on the soft surface trails, according to information from Larimer County. Of the 36% in favor of the pedal assist bikes, their primary reasons were to improve trail access for residents with chronic health constraints or mobility disabilities.
Input also was gathered by rangers at Larimer County Department of Natural Resources sites, through letters, from the pilot program and at public meetings.
An analysis of 93 comments on social media also showed 63% were opposed to e-bikes on the soft-surface trails. And in a comprehensive visitor study, 50% were opposed to e-bikes, 27% were in support, and the rest were either neutral or unaware of the issue, county officials reported.
“Overwhelmingly disabilities was a reason people supported it, which is why we think making this slight adjustment really addresses the public input that we heard,” Zac Wiebe, resource specialist, said.
Across all of Larimer County, including U.S. Forest Service land, county, city and town maintained trails, there are about 600 miles of trails that allow e-bikes, according to Wiebe.
For enforcement, county rangers may approach those they see on soft-surface trails with e-bikes and ask them about a mobility disability, according to Wiebe and Daylan Figgs, director of natural resources. They may ask if the resident has a disability but may not ask for details on the specific condition.
The resident may have a card or placard to prove the disability, but if not, verbal acknowledgment will suffice, Wiebe said.
In other jurisdictions that have made this change, enforcement has been through word of mouth without any real issues, Figgs added.
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Larimer County to allow e-bikes on soft-surface trails for those with mobility issues - Loveland Reporter-Herald
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