Wausau committee: e‑bikes treated as bicycles under state law, staff to propose trail signage

The City of Wausau Parks and Recreation Committee discussed e‑bike rules and trail safety at its Sept. 2 meeting, with staff saying state law and current city code already treat pedal‑assist e‑bikes as bicycles.

Jamie, Parks Department staff, told the committee the city references state statute 340‑01 and that “the state recognizes all three classes of E bikes as E bikes as long as they have pedals that propel it forward.” She said under that definition e‑bikes that meet the statute are permitted on city trails and that the city’s park ordinance already limits trail speed to 15 miles per hour, though there is little posted signage at present.

Several alder members said the practical problem is enforcement. “We definitely need to post the 15 mile per hour speed limits for sure,” Alder Neal said, recommending signage on heavily traveled corridors and exploring speed humps or temporary bump devices. Committee members discussed trade‑offs: temporary bumps can be removed in the off‑season and may be easier to plow around than permanent humps, while physical barriers can raise accessibility and trip‑hazard concerns for people with visual impairments.

Jamie said the department can prepare signs and install them at discrete locations but warned of staffing and long‑term maintenance costs if the committee wants equipment (for example, throw rings or other physical devices). Jamie summarized the committee’s next step: “If you want signage up, that’s just a direction from the committee. We can get 15 mile an hour signs made and get them posted, especially on the River Edge Trail.”

The committee directed Parks staff to inventory city parks and trails, prioritize heavily traveled segments such as the River Edge Trail, and return with a proposal for signage, user‑courtesy rules and options for temporary calming measures ahead of next season.