Committee accepts Bike Pack’s recommended downtown bike-lane rules as informational; ordinance drafting to continue

The committee voted unanimously to accept as informational a list of recommended downtown bike‑lane rules prepared by Bike Pack. Staff presented a draft ordinance that would reference state bicycle statutes and add downtown‑specific rules: a 10‑mile‑per‑hour maximum in the downtown core; one‑direction travel in on‑street adjacent bike lanes; prohibition on parking or leaving bicycles unattended except at racks; and required front white and rear red lights between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise.

Public comment and several councilors focused on enforcement feasibility, education and whether electrically powered bicycles and scooters should be allowed in the downtown shared lanes. Public Works Director Don Lucey explained many of the proposed items duplicate or align with state law (New Hampshire RSA provisions cited in the staff presentation) and city code; staff suggested adding only downtown‑specific rules where the state or existing city code do not already cover the conduct.

Key points from staff and the advisory committee:
- State law treats bicycles and certain personal mobility devices as vehicles for many traffic rules; staff cited several RSA sections addressing bicycles and vehicle equipment.
- Staff recommended a 10‑mph maximum in the downtown core because lower speeds make bicycles harder to balance and federal guidance suggests speed limits in 5‑mph increments.
- Bike Pack recommended 8 mph; some councilors and attendees urged 8 mph as more protective of pedestrians.
- Staff proposed that bicycles be parked only at racks and that unattended bicycles obstructing bike lanes be removed; staff noted RSA and city code currently permit bicycle parking on sidewalks where it does not impede pedestrians and that requiring exclusive rack use would be more stringent.

Committee members and public commenters asked staff to prioritize an education and signage campaign in addition to the ordinance, and several councilors requested a written enforcement plan and clarification of how mobility devices (assistive devices vs. motorized scooters) would be treated. Staff said a formal ordinance draft will be brought back to the committee for comment and that educational materials and signage would follow ordinance adoption.

The committee accepted the Bike Pack recommendations as informational and directed staff to continue ordinance drafting and public education work ahead of the bike-lane construction expected next year.