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Commission to hold special meeting after safety concerns about e-bikes on Greenway
Summary
Middlebury Parks & Recreation commissioners agreed to convene a special meeting to hear public concerns about e-bikes on the town Greenway after committee members and residents flagged safety, enforcement and facility-width limitations; options discussed include police-led safety courses, signage, speed limits and a possible alternative trail at Bristol Park.
The Middlebury Parks & Recreation Commission agreed to hold a special public meeting to gather community input and consider safety measures for e-bikes on the town Greenway.
Chair Carolanne Browne opened the discussion and said the Greenway Committee requested a forum to hear residents’ concerns and to invite the police chief to answer questions. Sharon Bosco, reporting for the Greenway Committee, said committee members had multiple safety concerns and are seeking community feedback before recommending a policy change.
Commissioner Mike Roach cautioned against simply banning e-bikes, saying riders displaced to streets would face greater danger. Roach suggested the town could offer a police-led safety course for riders and issue a sticker to course graduates to encourage safer behavior.
Commissioner Jennifer Mahr emphasized education and multiple enforcement and design options, including working with a certified bike officer, posting speed limits, public safety education, and, where feasible, painting lane lines — though she noted the Greenway’s width may limit that approach. Mahr also said she is considering dedicating Bristol Park as a bike-trail alternative and will perform a walk-through to evaluate routing between Memorial, Bristol and the Greenway.
Resident commenter Steven Rubenstein urged publishing guidance on Connecticut State Law for e-bikes in the local paper and said signage indicating liability (for example, “travel at your own risk”) might help; Mahr replied that some signage is complicated because parts of the route fall in the state right-of-way and that the police chief is aware of enforcement issues. Tim Mahr noted that some riders appear to operate throttle-equipped bikes that may require licensing and said enforcement would be a police matter.
The commission proposed several dates for a special meeting and tentatively set June 24 at 7 p.m., pending confirmation from Chief Deeley. Commissioners said the session will be used for education and to solicit community input before the commission considers regulatory or infrastructure changes.
The meeting record shows no final policy decision at this session; the special meeting and any subsequent recommendations or actions remain pending.
