County attorneys, risk consultant advise against e-bike access on horse trails; committee will send written opinion to full board

County counsel and the trust's risk consultant advised the LaSalle County Insurance Trust against permitting e-bikes (electric bicycles) on certain county trails where horses currently operate, citing safety and increased liability exposure. Counsel said the county had been put on notice of the risk by horse owners and that allowing motorized bicycles where animals travel could complicate the county's ability to defend lawsuits if an injury occurred.

Trustees and consultants discussed whether trail construction and maintenance standards would accommodate bicycles with motors, and whether the county's existing park rules would need to be updated before any change in use. Supporters of local e-bike access argued for dedicated, properly constructed trails; counsel and the risk manager said that was a different scenario and recommended caution before altering trail rules.

The trust approved a motion to forward a written legal/risk opinion to the county property committee and to place the letter in the packet for all county board members so the full board would have the committee's analysis before acting. The motion passed on a roll-call vote.

What happens next: the property committee will receive the letter ahead of its meeting and the full county board will have the opinion in its meeting packet; the matter may be revisited by property if a proposal for dedicated or modified trails is later presented.