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Board debates Riverwalk safety as members report high-speed e-bikes
Summary
Astoria parks staff and board members discussed rising safety concerns about fast e-bikes and small electric motorcycles on the Riverwalk, enforcement limits for park staff, and potential fixes including larger signs, targeted police reminders, and physical traffic-calming devices.
Astoria parks staff and board members spent a substantial portion of their meeting discussing safety on the Riverwalk after several members described encounters with high-speed electric bicycles and small electric motorcycles. A member characterized one recurring rider as riding "35, 45 miles an hour" and said the device "is no longer a bike" when it behaves like a motorbike. Staff acknowledged the problem and said parks employees lack enforcement authority, so the department is exploring larger signage and coordination with the Astoria Police Department for scheduled reminders or targeted presence.
Staff explained current practice: shared-pathway signs and reminders to use a bell exist but are easy to miss at speed, and enforcement capacity is limited. "We can certainly try and have more of a presence when they're able to on the Riverwalk to help remind people of those requirements," the staff member said. Board members suggested a mix of approaches — more prominent signs, occasional police crosswalk reminders, additional bollards in key locations and selective resurfacing — while acknowledging budget and staffing limits and the need for public outreach before regulatory changes.
