HomeMy WebLinkAbout070925-05.1
PARKS, RECREATION AND ARTS COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
5.1
TO: Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission July 9, 2025
SUBJECT: Use of Bicycles, Scooters and E-Bikes in Town Parks
BACKGROUND
Over the past several years, cities across the country have faced safety issues arising from
the growth in the number of E-bikes and e-scooters. Danville has not been immune from
this conversation. In the past year, the Town Council adopted an ordinance prohibiting
e-bikes on public sidewalks in designated commercial areas (e-scooters were already
banned from sidewalks by state law) and adopted changes to the parks ordinance
addressing e-bikes and scooters in parks recommended by the Commission.
In addition to these legislative changes, the Town’s Police Department and
Transportation Division have been working on enforcement and education. The Town
has worked closely with San Ramon Valley Unified School District in an effort to get
information out to not only students, but more importantly, to their parents. This is
critical because while e-bikes and scooters are an increasingly important means of
transportation, the laws regarding their use are not widely understood (see attached
copies of materials prepared by the Town). These efforts will continue.
More recently, the Town has heard concerns about e-bike safety in our parks and trails.
Specific concerns have primarily focused on the speed of these bikes, particularly when
they are sharing paved paths and trails in the parks with pedestrians, and riders
performing dangerous stunts which can lead to conflicts with other park users. The Town
Council discussed this issue at their study session of July 8, 2025 and is seeking input
from the Commission for any potential amendments to the parks ordinance.
DISCUSSION
On November 19, 2024, the Town Council adopted Ordinance No. 2024-10, which
adopted the rewrite of the parks ordinance recommended by the Commission. Because
the previous ordinance was adopted before e-bikes existed, they were not addressed. The
former ordinance contained the following language regarding bikes in our parks:
13-2.3 Prohibitions.
o. Bicycles. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle in a negligent, unsafe or
reckless manner, or in any way that endangers the life, limb or property of any
person in a Town park or trail.”
As amended, the section now reads as follows:
13-2.3 Prohibitions.
o. Bicycles, E-bikes and motorized scooters. No person shall ride or operate a
bicycle, e-bike or motorized scooter in a negligent, unsafe or reckless manner, or
in any way that endangers the life, limb or property of any person in a Town
park or trail. Riding bicycles, e-bikes and motorized scooters in park playground
areas is prohibited.
While it seems likely that education will continue to be the key to addressing these safety
concerns with parents and student, Town staff and the Town Council are seeking input
from the Commission on whether any changes to this newly adopted language are
appropriate or necessary to aid in addressing this issue. Options identified by staff are:
• Prohibiting riding e-bikes and motorized scooters throughout all of our parks
and trails, not just in playground areas. A number of cities throughout the state
have adopted such ordinances in the last year.
• Designating only certain paths within each park that could be used by e-bikes or
scooters.
• Adopting a speed limit (for just e-bikes or all bikes) while riding in a park or on
a trail. As an example, the East Bay Regional Park District has a 15 mile per hour
speed limit for all bikes on their paved trails.
RECOMMENDATION
The Commission should discuss the issue and, as appropriate, make any
recommendations for potential changes to the parks ordinance addressing e-bikes and
scooters.
Prepared by:
Robert B. Ewing
City Attorney
Attachment: E-bike information prepared by Danville PD
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