Last year during the legislative session I had email correspondence with Phyllis KIng who was pushing a bill regarding e-bikes. The bill would have allowed e-bikes to operate on the Boise Greenbelt. Boise City was against the bill primarily since there was no provision for local authorities to dictate or prohibit where the e-bikes would be allowed. Needless to say last Tuesday when I read that the council was presenting a bill that would allow e-bikes on the Greenbelt my initial reaction was whoa what caused the sudden mindshift with the City. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the council meeting on such short notice

My comments to Ms. King were based on my belief that if the popularity of the e-bikes were true and their numbers dramatically increased on the Greenbelt it would significantly impact the experience of Greenbelt walkers, strollers, joggers and casual cyclists (the people I feel the Greenbelt was envisioned for). Presently, you hear complaints regarding those “spandex” clad bike riders going too fast on the Greenbelt causing disruptions and safety hazards. So what is it going to be like if you multiple those riders by 5, 10, 50 times. These additional “non-spandex” wearing cyclists are going to exacerbate the issue of high speed bicycle traffic co-existing with non-cycling Greenbelt users. My concern is if the e-bikes are allowed on the Greenbelt it will degrade the experience of the people it was designed for, there will be even greater animosity toward cyclists and severely tarnish the luster of what truly is an asset to the city.

Full disclosure: I am a spandex wearing, over 60 road cycling enthusiast logging 2000+ miles a year. Of those thousands of miles less than 1% is on the Greenbelt. I avoid the Greenbelt because I realize when riding along at 12-15MPH on the Greenbelt I am as much a nuisance to the people as they are to me.

Undoubtedly, this ordinance will be enacted but unenforced and complaints are going to increase. Sad.

This is terrible news. I sure dirndl;t know about the meeting topic. I encountered some of these motorized bikes already using the Greenbelt last summer. They were going WAY TOO FAST. There will be serious injuries to people from this decision. I wonder if the City could be sued by someone who was injured? I understand that someone being bitten in the Foothills by Goat Guard Dogs was what put an abrupt end to the very expensive faddish goat grazing. It was all kept very hush hush. So maybe something similar will take place to counter this late City insanity.

Wow! Another stealth move by our public officials! What is wrong with this city? Where did this hearing agenda get published? Why does it require laser-like vigilance to get ahead of Boise administrators’ hair-brained assumptions about what’s best for us?
Soliciting public comment isn’t rocket science if an agency truly wants input. Developing plans for changes as huge as allowing electric bikes (whatever class they may be) on the already busy Greenbelt and Boise Foothills (?!) should have occurred in an open and well-publicized manner.
I guess we’ll have to wait now for some crashes involving small children, dogs or folks in wheelchairs before science and common sense get a hearing.

From the CITY:

Class 1 and
Class 2 e-bikes (power output of no more than 750 watts and a top speed of 20 miles per hour)

Class 3 e-bikes,
which can reach or exceed speeds of 28 miles per hour, would not be allowed on the Greenbelt under the proposed ordinance.
?????????
Great City. How about explaning the difference between 1 and 2? Gosh!

From elsewhere:
CLASS 1 350W // 20mph
CLASS 2 500W // 20mph
CLASS 3 350W // 28mph

Further: Class Type Definitions

“Electric bicycle” =less than 750 watts.

“Class 1 electric bicycle” or “low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle” shall mean a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.

“Class 2 electric bicycle” or “low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle” shall mean a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.

“Class 3 electric bicycle” or “speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle” shall mean a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour.
Some industry standards:
https://izipelectric.com/community/about/all-about-electric-bikes/electric-bike-regulations/

A bicycle with any kind of motor is a motorcycle.

I cannot understand how anyone who has ridden an electric-assist bike could vote to allow them on sidewalks, which is one of the most dangerous places to ride any type of bicycle. Class 1/pedal-assist on the Greenbelt is marginally OK, but there really should be a separate path for all bikes.

The worst bike crashes I’ve ever had have been on the Greenbelt, once wiped out by an inexperienced kid going too fast into a corner bridge approach, the other trying to pass a roller-blader on his lunch break listening to his earbuds, who didn’t hear my continual bell-ringing & skated out in front of me as I was about to pass. To avoid running up his back, I hit the brakes, went head-over-teakettle as the blader skated on blissfully oblivious—radial head fracture where my elbow bent the bar handle.

This flawed proposal, Ord-35-17, is on the third-reading agenda for adoption at this coming Tuesday’s noon Boise City Council meeting.

I’m not up on council procedures.

What can we do to slow this down?

EDITOR NOTE–If it is on the “consent agenda,” appear before the council at the meeting and ask that it be “pulled for further consideration.” Any citizen has the right to speak up when consent items are considered. Then, ask to be heard to address the issue a final time. If it passes, you can get a councior who voted in favor to ask for “reconsideration” at the next meeting if you can find one willing to change his or her vote.”

Ride, Roll, or Stroll…. common courtesy is what is needed. If you are approaching someone … SLOW DOWN TO THEIR SPEED … Say hello, smile, then go happily on your own way. If I want to ride like my azz is on fire I should be able to… as long as I am courteous to other users. Same thing If I have a 3 kid wide stroller and am a s l o w walker… I simply move to the right and stay aware of others… Have a nice day 🙂

I agree with “Voter” they should also be licensed and be on the streets only.

EDITOR NOTE–This debate needs to include the two-wheeled electric Segway devices. No one has ever been able to determine WHAT
it really is.

Ducky says licensed on the street only:
And the survey says, :https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/29/hail-to-the-chief-cyclist-gives-trump-the-middle-finger

Tell that to the old man, who is not allowed to drive due to medical reasons and pedals slower than you walk, so he uses an electric bike to help him get to the VA hospital… “Ride in the street mister”.

(there is one old guy in town running his electric wheelchair in the street- flags a flying!).

There is no one size fits all- except courtesy.

My email testimony on the issue:

I am 78 years old and a regular user (bicycle) of the Greenbelt and I strongly object to allowing electric bikes of any power on the Greenbelt.

The Boise Greenbelt should remain a “no motorized vehicles” system. The only reason consideration is being given to allow electric bikes is that Boise businesses are now selling them. It is not our responsibility to provide their customers place to ride.

It is my recollection that some of the initial money for the Boise River Greenbelt came from the Federal Highway Administration under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (commonly called ICE TEA) funds which were intended to promote alternative non-motorized transportation options, primarily walking and bicycle paths. It would seem that this was probably the origin of the Boise City “non-motorized” policy on the Greenbelt.

I am certain electric bike promoters will raise the red herring of impaired or elderly users as justification for the change.

If this is an issue then a special permit should be considered. Why should special permits for handicapped be required for foothill trails and not the greenbelt? It seems the current proposal just accommodates the lazy.

EDITOR NOTE–I think that same ICE TEA fund was tapped to pay for the “Big Mike” locomotive move from JD Park to the Depot as well.

Sorry folks the Boise City Council ok’ed motorcycles (I agree that any bike with a motor is a motorcycle)on the Greenbelt.

If you walk on the Greenbelt better buy a helmet and wear good padding.

The City Council could care less about the “normal” users of the GreenBelt or the drivers of cars on downtown streets.