The East Bay Regional Park District Board voted 5-0 to approve class 1 e-bike access to natural surface roads and trails (less than 8 foot wide) wherever bikes are permitted at their September 5th board meeting. Class 2 e-bike access to paved regional trails was also approved. Staff were directed to collect relevant data including bike volume and safety issues and provide a report one year from now. This was done as a change to Ordinance 38 and not a pilot or trial. Ahead of the meeting 154 public comments had been received with 33 supporting, 54 opposing, and 67 calling for a delay in making this change. Approximately 12 live public comments were made with a similar distribution in position. The staff report and presentation was thorough and strongly supported the change. It was noted that the MidPen study supported this decision despite MidPen taking a more limited access approach on their policy decision. Director Coffey once again strongly supported this change on the merit of benefits of e-bike use to a variety of demographic users and the practicality of the district’s significant experience with e-bikes on natural surface trails already.
Discussion of the e-bike changes starts around 1:25:50 and runs to about 4:10
