Signal Mountain council presses for education, review of bike-ped plan after serious crash

A resident and council members on Signal Mountain’s town council on April 27 pressed for more action on bicycle and pedestrian safety after a recent serious crash.

Anne Haygood, who identified herself from 506, told the council she had emailed members and asked that her comments be entered into the record. "You're all probably aware that over the weekend there was a bicycle accident that was serious enough but could have been worse," she said, and urged officials to follow the town's 09/10/2018 bike-ped master plan that recommends facilities from 5 Points to Anderson Pike and a spur to the Sam Powell Trail. She said there is "virtually no useful shoulder" from Middle Creek Road to Anderson Pike and pointed to new housing on Shackleford Ridge that will add cyclists and pedestrians.

Town staff and council members then discussed enforcement and education. Chief Williams, called to speak on e-bikes, summarized enforcement limits: "We can issue citations, when needed, except on private property," and urged residents to report unsafe groups so officers can respond.

Council members raised safety concerns about high-speed e-bikes ridden by youths. One council member noted state classifications around a 28 mph threshold that can separate assisted and unassisted devices and said, "If you have a 12 year old with a push button electric bicycle that can do 30 easily, they would need to get that properly..." Another member said education and parental involvement are critical but expressed skepticism that school assemblies alone would change behavior.

The council and staff agreed to pursue outreach. Chief Williams and town staff said they will coordinate safety messages on the town’s social media and work with the schools; the manager and chief said they will encourage residents to call police when they observe groups creating hazards. No ordinance change or formal enforcement policy was adopted at the meeting.

Why it matters: The discussion ties a recent serious crash to long-standing infrastructure needs and underscores the gap between statutory classifications of e-bikes and what local police can enforce without a local ordinance or evidence gathered at the scene. The council directed staff to develop outreach and return with any procedural or ordinance recommendations if needed.

Next steps: Council encouraged staff to include outreach materials in social media and to coordinate with the schools; no vote was taken.