Residents urge city review of e-bike activity at Western Hills Park; public safety subcommittee to consider Oct. 2

West Des Moines residents told the City Council on Sept. 2 that electric bicycles and motorized bikes are creating a collision risk and eroding a stormwater berm at Western Hills Park, and asked the city to impose or enforce park limits. The concerns prompted the mayor and council members to refer the matter to the council’s public safety subcommittee for further review; staff said the subcommittee will meet Oct. 2 and speakers will be notified of the time and place. Resident Blake Buffington, who lives across from Western Hills Elementary, asked the council to "keep the laws, the regulations, and the city guidelines as they are right now" and said property or criminal concerns should be handled by the West Des Moines Police Department rather than by changing bike regulations. Resident Rich Stevens, who provided photographs to the council, described two hazards he said are caused by e-bikes and motorized bikes using the stormwater berm: a collision risk at blind approaches where riders perform jumps, and progressive erosion of the berm that he said has cut "deep grooves" into the vegetation. Stevens told the council the berm has held "1,400,000 gallons of water" at times and warned that erosion, in his view, could cause structural failure and flooding of adjacent homes. Stevens proposed low-cost changes to park signage and rules — he said a fix could cost "less than a $180" — and urged the city to either restrict jumps to hard surfaces or provide an alternative off-site location for riders. Council members said they take the safety concerns seriously but did not vote on new rules. Councilman Matt McKinney said the topic has surfaced across the metropolitan planning area and noted some cities are evaluating regional guidance. Councilwoman Blythe Hartman, who chairs the public safety subcommittee, said she welcomes public input and that the advisory subcommittee will hear the matter before any final council action. Councilman Trevillion suggested the city examine opportunities for a controlled off-highway vehicle or dirt-bike facility as an alternative location for jumps. No ordinance or regulation was adopted at the Sept. 2 meeting; the action recorded was direction to place the matter on the public safety subcommittee agenda for Oct. 2 for further review and recommendations to the full council. The city said staff will notify the residents who spoke of the subcommittee’s time and place once finalized.