Basin Recreation brings e-bike ordinance; County Council requests full work session before changing county code

Basin Recreation staff asked the council—meeting as the Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District board—to adopt an ordinance on e-bike use in the Snyderville Basin, describing the results of a public-opinion poll with more than 2,000 respondents. Staff said respondents favored a 15 mph speed limit on trails, more ranger presence, educational signage, and a conditional allowance for Class 1 e-mountain bikes on natural-surface single-track trails for operators age 65 and up and for people with mobility disabilities.

Basin Recreation noted coordination with Park City to ensure consistent trail signage and rules across jurisdictional boundaries in the Snyderville Basin. Dave Thomas (staff/county counsel) confirmed the proposed amendment would apply to trails within the Snyderville Basin portion of the Summit County Code (Chapter 7, Chapter 5 related to parks and recreation facilities) and would affect public trails in the basin even if the trails are not directly managed by Basin Rec.

Several council members said they supported the policy’s intent but were uncomfortable approving a county-code amendment at the meeting without a full work session and more detailed briefings on scope, enforcement and operational implications. The council directed staff to schedule a work session (with public input advertised) to allow deeper review before any code change is adopted.