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Commission discusses trail safety, motorized dirt bikes, pickleball conflicts and cameras
Summary
Gig Harbor commissioners debated enforcement and outreach after volunteers narrowly avoided collisions with high‑speed motorized bikes on trails, discussed pickleball court conflicts and approved increased security measures including an imminent camera installation contract.
Trail safety and park security dominated much of the Parks Commission discussion on May 6.
Several commissioners described incidents in which larger electric dirt‑bike style vehicles — not pedal‑assist e‑bikes — were operating on multi‑use trails at high speeds. One commissioner described children on motorized bikes “going about 30 miles an hour on Cushman Trail” and said the speed and lack of control created a safety hazard for volunteers and other trail users. Commissioners debated whether code changes are needed, noted that many of these vehicles are already prohibited under existing code (type‑3 electric devices are not allowed on trails) and discussed awareness, outreach and enforcement as near‑term steps.
Possible near‑term responses included an educational campaign using city communications channels, targeted police patrols on Friday nights, and an awareness push to parents. Commissioners also discussed physical deterrents and design changes (bollards, speed‑calming features), but recognized no single engineering fix fits all trail segments.
The commission also addressed recurring vandalism and crowding at some facilities. Parks Manager Jennifer Harrow said the city has a contract to install cameras and expects them to be installed within one to two weeks; commissioners suggested motion‑activated lighting, recorded voice warnings and more visible police presence to change perceived risk of being caught. “The camera will tell us who is there,” Harrow said, and several commissioners supported trials of alarm‑style recordings and additional patrols.
Pickleball court use generated an extended debate about keeping public courts ‘warm, welcoming and inclusive’ versus the reality that advanced players often dominate play. Commissioners weighed non‑regulatory options — ambassadors, outreach, volunteer court hosts and skill‑building sessions — against the risk that formal reservation or stratification systems would create an exclusionary environment.
Outcomes: the commission endorsed awareness and enforcement actions as next steps, encouraged staff to proceed with the camera contract and follow up with police and community outreach plans, and asked staff to return with updates.
