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Boulder council asks staff to research e-bike and e-scooter regulation and authority
Summary
Council gave staff a nod-of-three to research the city’s authority to regulate e-bikes and e-scooters and report back, prompted by safety concerns and injury reports. The council asked for legal research and implementation sequencing; staff agreed to return with findings.
The Boulder City Council directed staff on Oct. 23 to research the city’s legal authority and potential regulatory options for e-bikes and e-scooters after councilmembers expressed concern about injuries and high-speed use on multi-use paths.
Councilmember Taisha Adams raised safety concerns and asked staff to clarify what the city could regulate versus what authority rested with the state. Legal counsel and transportation staff said this initially is a legal and policy-research task; if council wishes to pursue operational or enforcement changes later, those would need separate work-plan or ordinance actions.
Mayor Brockett conducted a physical hand-raise to gather support for a nod-of-three; the mayor reported nine hands in favor. Legal counsel said staff would conduct the requested legal research and return with an information packet; transportation staff noted the topic has been considered previously by Transportation and Mobility and that additional operational actions would require council direction and likely more work from TAB or staff.
Councilmembers framed the request as a public-safety issue and asked staff to assess the city’s regulatory options, state preemption issues and whether model ordinances exist for other municipalities.
Staff committed to performing the research and reporting back to council in a future information item or work-plan item; no regulatory change was adopted at the meeting.
