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Redmond council debates ban on electric‑assisted bikes in parks; public hearing and survey planned
Summary
Councilors weighed enforceability, safety and disability access while considering an ordinance to prohibit electric‑motor‑assisted bicycles and scooters in city parks and the Dry Canyon. The police chief recommended a ban in the canyon; council directed staff to hold a public hearing and run a survey.
The Redmond City Council spent a large portion of its April 7 meeting debating whether to restrict electric‑assist bicycles and motorized scooters in city parks, including the Dry Canyon, and asked staff to open a public hearing and public survey before adopting any ordinance.
Staff presented two draft ordinance approaches: a definition‑based ban that would prohibit bicycles “equipped with an electric motor that provides propulsion, whether with pedaling or without,” and a narrower approach that would rule out only vehicles that cannot be pedaled at all. Staff warned enforcement could be difficult without a simple, objective definition.
Multiple councilors shared safety and access concerns. One council member said narrow paths and high speeds make the canyon hazardous for children and walkers; another raised disability‑access issues, noting that some residents rely on electric assist to get outdoors. The debate repeatedly returned to enforceability: as one councilor put it, “We’re not gonna have people down there with radar guns” to measure speeds or determine class ratings on e‑bikes.
Police Chief (speaking to council) recommended a ban in the canyon and city parks for community safety: “Our recommendation is a ban of any e‑bikes in the canyon or any other city parks… If we’re trying to do it for community safety, I think this is the best avenue.” The chief also said enforcement could be handled by Community Service Officers if the rule were on the books.
Councilors discussed disability waivers and enforcement mechanisms (sticker/registration, CSO enforcement or a targeted enforcement window). Several members asked for a public hearing to collect community input and a survey was proposed to better define the problem before adopting a code change.
Next steps: staff will prepare materials for a public hearing and survey outreach; council signaled support for keeping the draft ordinance simple and enforceable while preserving a waiver process for people with mobility needs.
