Staff recommends restricting e-bikes and e-scooters in parks; council to vote July 27

City parks staff presented a memo recommending that e-bikes and e-scooters be restricted inside city parks and that riders be required to park devices at designated racks at park entrances, then continue into parks on foot. The memo is slated to go to city council for a vote on July 27.

Chris, a parks staff member, told the board that police had received “2 and 3 issues a day” reporting conflicts between riders and pedestrians and that officers were already issuing citations and impounding illegal devices. “They have the class three’s that are going 60 miles an hour with a 13, 14 year old kid down the road,” Chris said, describing devices staff consider unsafe on shared park paths. He said the police chief supports the proposed change and that new precincts near Newtown and Cully Creek provide patrol capacity to support enforcement.

Under the proposal staff outlined, riders may access parks via sidewalks but would need to park at bike/scooter racks placed at park entrances. Staff described an initial rack plan of an eight-bike rack plus a five- to six-space scooter rack at each entrance, with the ability to add units if demand grows. For the boardwalk — a wider 15-foot trail — staff proposed an exception allowing riders to continue through except during events.

Committee members pressed staff on enforcement and liability. One member warned that “the liability, especially for the city, is huge” and said homeowners and drivers insurance likely would not cover incidents involving the devices. Another member described seeing groups of teenagers riding high-speed devices without helmets and said officers were issuing citations and contacting parents.

Board discussion also covered device classification (class 1–3 e-bikes), differences with scooters (which currently lack the same class system), signage and education plans, and how the city would monitor effects after implementation. Chris said staff will report back to council in three to six months and asked council to authorize adjustments if compliance or safety problems persist.

The board did not take a formal vote on the ordinance at the meeting; staff will forward the memo and its recommended approach to council on July 27 for formal action.