After collision, resident urges Boulder to tighten e-bike rules; staff says e-bikes allowed on multi-use paths

At the Sept. 4 Boulder City Council meeting, resident Betsy Neely urged the council to strengthen enforcement of local rules governing e-bikes following a collision with a 13-year-old rider.

Neely described the crash and said she was surprised the young rider was not ticketed. She said she understood from subsequent inquiries that certain e-bikes are allowed on sidewalks and that city rules permit speeds up to 15 miles per hour in some contexts. “These young teens' brains are not developed. They don't have the judgment and the experience that we have as adults. And they're riding at high speed,” Neely said, describing the behavior she has observed: riding through stop signs and on parks’ grassy meadows.

Council members pressed staff for clarification. A council member identified in the record as Tina asked, “Is it okay to have e-bikes on any sidewalk in the city? Could you just clarify that?” Senior staff responded that e-bikes are allowed on multi-use paths and that some sidewalks are explicitly marked where e-bikes are not permitted; a city staffer said the city’s map of allowable routes is available on the city website and that staff would share Neely’s concerns with the transportation team.

City staff thanked Neely for the suggestions and committed to conveying her comments to the transportation group for follow up. No formal code change or council action was proposed at the meeting; the matter was recorded as an item for staff attention.

Council members noted the comment during the open-comment period and did not take immediate legislative action. Staff indicated they would follow up with the council and post related information on the city website.