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Board debates e-bike rules for greenways, staff recommends delay for wider parks policy review
Summary
At a March work session, Thompson's Station staff described amendments to Ordinance 26-003 that would allow Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on greenways but exclude certain park trails; board members raised safety and enforcement concerns and staff recommended tabling for a year to collect community input and monitor issues.
Thompson's Station officials debated changes to local rules for electric bicycles and other motorized small vehicles during a March work session as staff moved the town's ordinance to a second reading.
Staff described amendments to Ordinance 26-003 that would allow Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on town greenways, paths and trails while excluding specific trails inside town parks. The rewrite also added enforcement and impoundment language and special provisions for violators under 18.
"If you're not comfortable moving this forward, tabling it for at least a year would be the staff recommendation," a staff member said, explaining that monitoring the greenway for a year would provide data and community feedback before the town adopts permanent rules.
Several aldermen said they were sympathetic to the need for active transportation but worried the town lacks the means to enforce a broad prohibition. "I just really have heartburn over this," the mayor said. "How we enforce any of it is beyond me. We just don't have the means to enforce it." The mayor added safety concerns — including riders passing at speed without helmets near schools.
Board members pressed staff to clarify how the ordinance would treat stand-on scooters and throttle-only motor bikes ("eMoto" models that resemble dirt bikes). A staff member said the town would recommend excluding those throttle-driven dirt-bike-style machines from greenways and retain sections of the ordinance in reserve if the board wants to revisit them later.
Some members urged a narrower, phased approach. "It might be a start that we could use and then spend some time," one alderman said, arguing for a measure that would exclude side-by-sides and other larger utility vehicles.
There was no vote; staff said the revised ordinance packet will be distributed to the board ahead of next week's formal BOMA meeting, where members will consider final action.
