Mercer Island’s Parks & Recreation Commission and Open Space Conservancy Trust debated proposed rules for electric bicycles and scooters at a joint meeting on Jan. 8, 2026, but declined to send a final recommendation to the City Council after sustained public comment and board questions about enforcement, trail exceptions and community outreach.

Management analyst Amelia (management analyst) opened the meeting by summarizing the draft policy staff prepared after the city’s September 2025 ordinance that banned e‑motorcycles in parks. Staff’s draft would prohibit class 1 and class 2 e‑bikes and e‑scooters in parks and open space except on paved trails (asphalt, concrete, brick or stone pavers) or where otherwise posted, and would prohibit class 3 e‑bikes from parks and open spaces.

The public record included multiple speakers who urged a less restrictive approach. Ben Sharp, a Mercer Island resident, said the community had conflated heavy e‑motorcycle problems with lawful e‑bike use and warned that a blanket ban could increase confrontations and unnecessary police responses. “My kids were harassed and the police had to come because someone thought a sign meant e‑bikes were illegal,” Sharp said. Jay Greer, a youth mountain‑bike coach, asked staff to pause new regulations and engage the island’s e‑biking community before adopting broad restrictions. Members of Neighbors in Motion cited regional studies and urged staff to study trail design changes, signage and education as alternatives.

Mercer Island Police Department Commander Seifert said the department supports clear, simple rules that officers can enforce, and noted that most recent complaints relate to heavier vehicles sold as e‑bikes (so‑called e‑motorcycles), not to lawful class 1 or 2 e‑bikes. Seifert also told the boards that speed enforcement on bicycles is technically difficult and that most park enforcement is complaint‑driven rather than proactive.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about enforcement, exceptions and the policy’s practical effects: how "paved" would be defined; who would designate trail exceptions (staff said the parks and recreation director has authority under city code to set park‑specific rules); how to handle commuting corridors used by children (for example, boardwalks and perimeter trails in Pioneer Park); and whether class 3 e‑bikes should be singled out, as in other jurisdictions. Staff and police recommended keeping trail rules as simple as possible while proposing a handoff memo to council that could identify work‑plan items such as a bike connectivity map, targeted outreach, and specific trail reviews.

Staff also noted jurisdictional limits affecting the I‑90 Mountains to Sound Trail and Aubrey Davis Park: stretches owned by WSDOT are subject to consistency requirements across jurisdictions, and Seattle, Bellevue and King County policies may constrain local deviations. The Mercer Island School District told staff it supports the proposed policy and intends to align South Mercer Playfields rules with the city’s once council action is completed.

After extended discussion, chairs and staff agreed to postpone making a formal motion. Staff committed to return with additional information — including trail maps showing which surfaces would be affected, comparative policies from state parks and neighboring cities, data on class 3 prevalence, and outreach options — and the boards signaled plans for more community engagement before forwarding recommendations to council.

The joint meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m.

What’s next: Staff will prepare follow‑up materials and the chairs will coordinate next steps; if a recommendation is sent to council it is expected to be accompanied by a handoff memo that could include further study items, proposed signage and an education plan.