San Anselmo updates electric bike rules after park collision

A bicyclist rides through Memorial Park in San Anselmo on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

A sign with rules for bicycles, e-bikes, electronic scooters and other motorized vehicles is posted on a fence along a sports field at Memorial Park in San Anselmo on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

A bicyclist rides an e-bike past the playground at Memorial Park in San Anselmo on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

A pedestrian pushes a stroller past a sign with rules for bicycles, e-bikes, electronic scooters and other motorized vehicles at Memorial Park in San Anselmo on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

San Anselmo is banning the use of electric bicycles and electric scooters from all but one path at Memorial Park.

The Town Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday, with Mayor Steve Burdo and Vice Mayor Eileen Burke dissenting, to approve the rule change.

The use of electric bicycles at the park has been a source of consternation for residents and town officials following reports of unsafe speeds, aggressive behavior and substance abuse involving youths. The issue came to a head in March when a pedestrian was knocked to the ground by an e-bike rider.

Despite those concerns, town staff wanted to allow electric devices at a maximum speed of 10 mph on the 10-foot-wide designated multiuse path on the east side of the park. It runs from the Log Cabin parking lot to Sunny Hills Drive and the Red Hill Shopping Center, and it is considered a significant bike thoroughfare, staff said.

Banning electric bicycles from that path would force riders onto the busy Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, discouraging non-motorized transportation, staff said.

Burdo and Burke said they would prefer creating a separate, parallel bike route in order to remove the bicycle-pedestrian conflict.

"I think the problem is more than just speed," Burke said. "E-bikes are heavier. We didn't have a problem before we had e-bikes."

Furthermore, the town's Parks and Recreation Commission voted 8 to 0 last month to encourage the Town Council to reject the staff recommendation, Burdo said.

Michael Cerio, chair of the parks commission, said it strongly urged town officials to take 90 days to figure out a plan to reintroduce e-bikes to the park.

"The safety of our residents and park users is our primary concern," Cerio said. He said the path is too narrow.

"We need to embrace e-bikes," Burdo said. "They are not going anywhere. They are here to stay."

However, Burdo said, "from a safety standpoint, it feels like we’re just trying to jam everything into this one little space rather than carving out an appropriate space to have both of these uses."

A new bicycle-only path would cost about $30,000, said Sean Condry, the director of public works.

Councilmember Alexis Fineman said the problem that needs to be mitigated is speed. She said creating a new path would be a big expense, but won't solve the problem.

Fineman said the 10-foot path is a compliant Class 1 multiuse path designed to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians.

Fineman said posting signs banning e-bikes from that multiuse path is not the solution either. The only way to change the bad behavior, she said, is if "we have an enforcement mechanism in place." She recommended that officers continue to patrol and ticket speeders.

After the collision in March, the Central Marin Police Authority was tapped to patrol the park and enforce a regulation that prohibits motorized vehicles from the paths and park.

The town also held a community forum for parents, educators and teens to learn about the problem.

The new rules will specifically say that electric bicycles and electric scooters are not allowed in the park, except on the multiuse path. There will be a speed limit sign posted at the multiuse path identifying electric bicycles and electric scooters as permissible vehicles on that path.

E-bike riders may walk their bikes through Memorial Park on other paths. Non-motorized bicycles are allowed on those paths at a safe speed. No bikes or non-authorized motorized vehicles are allowed on the grass fields.

An infraction could result in a citation, which carries fines beginning at $150 and increasing to $1,000 per violation. If the violator is a minor, the officer would contact the parent.

The new signs are expected to be installed in time for new rules to begin July 1, Town Manager Dave Donery said.

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