(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Colorado Springs City Council is on-board with the use of electric bikes in the city, but they’re still figuring out if the rules around e-bikes should be left to the voters.
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, City Council voted 6-3 to approve an ordinance allowing the use of class one e-bikes on urban or community trails that run throughout the city, like Sinton and Pikes Peak Greenway Trails.
Under the ordinance, class one e-bikes would be allowed on trails where other bikes are already allowed. These e-bikes come with motors that provide a boost of up to 20 miles per hour, but only when the rider is pedaling.
“I absolutely support class one e-bikes being classified as non-motorized,” said Randy Helms, City Council President. “I’m convinced of that. I think we decide later down the road, class two and class three.”
City Council is now deciding if they will allow them on properties acquired by the 1997 voter-approved Parks, Trails, and Open Space, or TOPS ordinance, which set aside sales tax dollars to fund parks and open spaces like Ute Valley Park and Red Rock Open Space.
“I would support putting that on the ballot at our next scheduled election or even if we felt it was important enough before that,” explained Dave Donelson, City Council District 1. “I think that would allow parks to go ahead and move forward with e-bikes on trails, urban trails, city parks, just not in the TOPS area.”
While City Council decided to delay asking voters to approve e-bike rules on TOPS properties, the ordinance passed Tuesday requires a second reading, set for Feb. 25.
“I think the right thing to do to maintain trust with voters, even though it’s less convenient, even though it makes it more difficult for the parks department in the short-term, is to let the voters vote on it on a ballot,” Donelson said.
City Council decided Tuesday’s deadline for the April ballot did not leave enough time to properly create a ballot question. If the ordinance fails at its second reading later this month, voters could see this issue on the April 2027 ballot.
