Fort Collins reviews new definitions and rules for lightweight electric and human‑powered vehicles; staff seeks council feedback

City staff presented a high‑level review of potential rule changes for a growing range of small personal mobility devices — including skateboards, e‑skates, electric unicycles and lightweight electric vehicles — and asked council for direction on definitions, behavior rules and where devices should be permitted on the city’s pedestrian and cycling network.

Deputy Planning Director Drew Brooks said the discussion aligns with Fort Collins’ active‑modes and Vision Zero goals: "Shifting automotive to active modes is critical to achieving our climate and Vision 0 goals," he said. Staff framed the work as preparatory and said any code or ordinance changes would return to council after internal and external review.

Definitions and community input: Transportation planner Rachel Ruhlin said staff proposed two new categories — human‑powered vehicles and lightweight electric vehicles — with a 20 miles‑per‑hour design line for lightweight devices. ‘‘That is where we draw that line,’’ Ruhlin said, explaining the 20 mph threshold would separate lightweight devices from faster e‑motor vehicles and help standardize regulation as new device types emerge.

Staff reported nearly 1,500 survey responses and more than 700 comments, and they convened multiple advisory boards and partner agencies for input. Research included crash analyses focused on scooters and skateboards, and the city examined other municipal experiences, notably Boulder’s 2021 changes.

Where devices might be allowed: staff presented option matrices for sidewalks, crosswalks, streets, bike lanes and paved trails. In summary:

- Sidewalks: most device types are currently allowed; staff are not proposing new sidewalk bans but emphasized continued safety education.

- Crosswalks: staff explored removing dismount requirements for some device classes so users could behave similarly to bicyclists in crosswalks while preserving safety caveats.

- Streets and bike lanes: staff explored allowing a broader set of human‑powered and lightweight electric vehicles on streets and bike lanes but noted exceptions for certain high‑power devices and a need to reconcile vehicle classes with state law.

- Paved trails: staff said the Mason Trail pilot allowing lightweight electric vehicles has operated for about a year with no major incidents; staff acknowledged trail users expressed concerns about speed differentials and said educational outreach and signage are primary tools to manage those issues.

Enforcement and resources: staff and council discussed enforcement limits and the resource implications of policing new rules. Several councilmembers said education and consistent signage should be the initial emphasis. Staff noted rangers and police can respond to incidents but that enforcement of device speeds and transient high‑speed operators is technically challenging and resource intensive.

Next steps: staff said they will use council feedback to draft ordinance language, coordinate with police and prosecutors on enforceability, and return next year with proposed code changes and implementation plans. Councilmembers generally supported simplifying definitions and prioritizing education, while asking staff to examine enforcement options for unusually high‑speed or misused devices and to coordinate definitions with neighboring communities.