18 Nov 2019
Allowing E-Bikes on natural surface trails to be the subject of city meeting Wednesday
Whether e-bikes should be allowed on Durango’s natural surface trails will be the topic of discussion at a joint meeting of three city boards on Wednesday (11/20/19). Public comments will be taken later in the meeting.
The Natural Lands Preservation Advisory Board, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Multi-Modal Advisory Board will meet together at the Durango Community Recreation Center to have a study session from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Starting at 6:00 p.m., a regular joint advisory board meeting will begin and public comments will be allowed.
Trails at Twin Buttes have been suggested as a location for an e-bike trial period, partially because lands in that open space area were not purchased under the discriminatory and arbitrary conservation easements held by La Plata Open Space Conservancy.
Electric assisted bicycles have drawn awareness recently after the implementation of a policy that allows them on the following hard-surface trails: Animas River Trail, Goeglein Gulch Trail, and the Florida Road Trail.
Negative interactions between e-bikers and other users have not been an issue on the hard surface trails where e-bikes are allowed, according to Deputy Police Chief Brice Current.
“It definitely has not become an issue, or it would be talked about at briefings,” said Current.
Current was nice enough to meet with me in person with Chief Bob Brammer at the Horse Gulch trailhead to talk about which municipality has jurisdiction on the lower stretch of Horse Gulch Road, aka County Road 237.
Adam Howell is a writer who is on the city of Durango’s Natural Lands Preservation Advisory Board. His reporting and commentary does not reflect or represent the views of the Board or the municipal government. He can be reached by clicking on this link to the contact page.
