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Commission debates e-bike rules, signage durability and court etiquette as park use rises
Summary
Staff told the commission about community complaints over e-bike use on natural-surface trails and recommended targeted orange notice signs and a future update to park rules (Newcastle municipal code cited). Commissioners discussed including e-scooters, sign durability, a 15 mph guideline, and options for pickleball rotation and paddle organizers.
City staff told commissioners on Nov. 12 that summer complaints about e-bike use on natural-surface trails focused on speed, safety and conflicts with pedestrians, prompting staff to post orange laminated notice signs at problem access points and recommend a future update to park-rule signs.
Brandon described the temporary notices: the posted orange signs say no e-bikes on natural surface trails, allow class 1 and 2 on paved shared-use paths, prohibit class 3 on trails, and ask riders to yield and stay below 15 mph. Staff recommended continuing targeted site-specific notices and, when park-rule signs are replaced, adding a succinct line such as "no e-bikes on natural surface areas or trails unless otherwise posted." The notices were used at Lake Boren and Redmond Park and were framed as a low-cost, rapid-response tool.
Commissioners raised multiple concerns: Chair Nathan Sticks asked to include e-scooters in rules and noted that small temporary signs on wooden stakes were easy for children to remove and suggested installing more permanent fixtures. Several commissioners recounted close calls with fast riders on scooters and urged stronger enforcement or clearer language that closes loopholes (for example, prohibiting motorized vehicles on trails or shared-use paths). One commissioner pushed for outreach and education as a first step, including school- and social-media-based messaging.
Pickleball and tennis etiquette also surfaced during the discussion. Staff noted the existing 2019 court signs do not address pickleball rotation or paddle stacking. Commissioners supported a transient, legible supplemental sign (multilingual and possibly linked via QR code), and recommended paddle organizers that hang on the fence. Staff agreed to explore multilingual signage, QR links to rules, and potential paddle organizers and to coordinate follow-up with local players.
No formal regulatory change was adopted at the Nov. 12 meeting; staff will continue using targeted notices, consider durable mounting for signs, and explore rule language and outreach options to clarify e-bike and court use policies.
