The Summit County Board of Commissioners recently met for deliberations on loosening up rules for e-bikes on county recpaths for people with mobility challenges. It took a bit of internet research on my part to figure out exactly which trails are considered part of that system, but I found a good resource in the Explore Summit Trail Guide. Turns out my wife and I have ridden most of those trails at one point or another, particularly the Dillon Reservoir, Snake River, and Ten Mile Recpaths. 

The rule changes under consideration include allowing Class 2 and 3 e-bikes on the recpaths for those folks who are “mobility challenged,” per Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, as well as ensuring that there are enforcement mechanisms for new and existing regulations. In the few years that I’ve been riding these recpaths, I haven’t encountered any issues with unsafe riders or walkers, so I can’t help but wonder if the board is addressing a growing issue or if it’s much ado over a handful of incidents. Given the Open Space and Trails director’s response that there isn’t data to support the concern that e-bikes on recpaths have led to increased problems, it seems it may be the latter. 

Personally, we’ve found that riders usually announce themselves when passing and I haven’t witnessed any incidents of dangerous speeding, but that’s a subjective observation to be sure. We have found that some parts of the trail system, particularly along the Blue River, include an at-times dicey mix of bikers and folks walking with young kids along it. Walkers have occasionally gotten a little testy about bikes passing them, but that’s understandable and has never led to anything more than a snarky comment or side-eye glance from them. 

Issues with e-bikes, e-scooters and unicycles is not just a Summit County concern, it applies to users of paths and roadways all over the state. But the rules of the road vary between jurisdictions, and it can be difficult for riders to know whether they’re following them or not. As such, I certainly agree that an education push for recpath users would be helpful.

I also think that if relaxing these regulations does in fact put the county in line with ADA rules for mobility challenged folks (we’ll need educational outreach about to whom this applies), that’d be a good thing. As things stand now, I’m sure there’s a lot of law breaking going on in regard to allowing only class 1 e-bikes on these paths. We’ve seen it while riding and while sitting out on our back patio. That patio faces a leg of the Dillon Reservoir recpath, and we often see bikes traveling at speeds indicative of Class 2 or 3 vehicles. The biggest giveaway is, of course, when folks are cruising without pedaling.

But regarding enforcement, surely the Sheriff’s Office has enough on its hands without adding speed and e-bike class enforcement to its already lengthy to-do list. Having the Open Spaces and Trails department hire someone to monitor compliance makes sense though, or perhaps even creating a hotline where folks can report trouble spots so enforcement can focus primarily on areas where problems have been reported. This would help with prioritizing such efforts, since we’d be talking one official for 55 miles of recpaths. 

Common sense and knowing the rules of the road for bikers must also be part of the solution. Obey speed limits (more trail signage seems appropriate), ensure your bike is in good working condition, particularly the brakes, and be considerate in letting folks know when you’re passing. There are plenty of resources online for riders to educate themselves on what’s copacetic and what’s not on roads, recpaths and trails. These include state resources/CDOT, BicycleColorado.org, and Summit Daily‘s guide for usage of e-bikes in Summit County. 

However, the suggestion that holding rental shops accountable for the actions of their e-bike renters seems overboard. Businesses should certainly provide their renters with information on Summit County recpath rules, particularly for the type of bike being rented, but how exactly are they supposed to ensure those renters comply with said rules? If we’re going there, will we also start fining marinas for boating mishaps or ski/snowboard rental shops for accidents that involve a skier with their rented gear? 

In considering these rule changes, the Summit County Board of Commissioners needs to balance ensuring safety with allowing enjoyment of the activity. And county residents and visitors must demonstrate personal responsibility and consideration for others. Doing so would allow expansion of who can enjoy the recpaths while lessening the regulatory burden on citizens and government enforcers. 

Tony Jones' column "Everything in Moderation" publishes biweekly on Thursdays in the Summit Daily News. Jones is a veteran of the IT industry and has worked in the public and private sectors. He lives part-time in Summit County and Denver. Contact him at eimsummit@gmail.com.