Resident urges city to promote bicycle and micromobility safety using updated state materials

During the public-comment period, resident Rachel Owens Allen Smith asked the council to promote bicycle and micromobility safety and to distribute the state’s updated bicycle-safety materials.

Smith said she obtained an updated handout from the state highway department that covers laws, right-of-way guidance, tips for observing people with disabilities and new content addressing electric vehicles. She offered copies of the state materials and asked to work with the library and the health department on outreach; she said she had previously worked with those organizations and believed the materials would fit in a wallet for distribution.

Smith noted that she has observed electric micromobility vehicles riding on sidewalks, occupying two lanes of traffic and that some operators appear unaware of applicable laws; she urged the city to take steps to educate residents to increase safety. She said she would coordinate with local schools and partner organizations to develop programs and provide printed copies of the state guidance.

The council did not record formal direction to staff in the meeting minutes; Smith said she would supply more information to the city. No city staff speaker provided a response during the public-comments item recorded in the transcript.