Parks and Recreation to hold June 24 special meeting on e-bikes; town outlines safety, enforcement and education steps

The Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a special meeting June 24 at 7 p.m. in the Shepardson Community Center auditorium to focus exclusively on e-bike use on the Greenway, officials announced at the Middlebury Police Commission meeting on June 8.

Carolanne Browne, chair of Parks and Recreation, said the issue began as an internal commission question about whether e-bikes are permitted on the Greenway and has become a broader community concern. Browne invited the Greenway Commission and community members to attend.

First Selectwoman Jennifer Mahr clarified that Connecticut law allows certain e-bikes but distinguishes them from motor-driven cycles that use a throttle and do not require pedaling; such throttle-powered vehicles require a driver’s license and are meant for road use. "The e-bikes allowed on the Greenway are Class 1 and Class 2. You have to be pedaling to get the electric assist," Mahr said, adding that some middle-school-aged riders are using illegal motor-driven cycles.

The commission discussed possible local measures including adopting a Greenway speed limit (one commissioner cited a 12 mph limit on the Farmington Canal), enforcement patrols and an education program. First Selectwoman Mahr said two microtransit grants (awarded to the library and Parks & Recreation) can be repurposed to buy helmets and to license an online e-bike certification course; participants who complete the course could receive helmets and a voluntary inspection. The town also discussed purchasing an outfitted police bike for about $5,000 to increase summer patrols on the Greenway.

Parks and Recreation will hold the special meeting on June 24 to gather public input and discuss next steps.