Eugene council moves to prohibit motorized scooters on bike paths - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

09-19-2004, 07:15 PM

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September 16, 2004

Eugene council moves to prohibit motorized scooters on bike paths
By Joe Harwood
The Register-Guard

Concluding that motorized scooters just aren't right for the city's off-street bike paths,
the Eugene City Council on Wednesday began a process to ban the vehicles.

Councilors unanimously directed city staff to draft an ordinance forbidding any "motorized
transportation devices" on Eugene's 32 miles of bike paths. The ordinance would affect
only off-street paths, not on-street bike lanes. The ban would include electric- and
gas-powered scooters, the so-called "pocket bike" miniature motorcycles, and bicycles with
electric motors to assist weary riders.

Electric wheelchairs and other equipment used by those with limited mobility would be
exempt from the ordinance.

The council has been working on the issue since June, prompted by complaints from
residents about the scooters on the city's bike paths and bike lanes. The biggest issues
cited by residents are noise, fumes from engines and the speed of the machines.

The scooters look like skateboards with handlebars, have small, rear-mounted two-cycle
engines, and in some cases, have seats. The explosive popularity of the inexpensive
scooters and the minimotorcycles has led cities across the nation to institute
prohibitions or restrictions on their use.

Councilor David Kelly asked the council to make a distinction between the electric and gas
engines when considering the prohibition, noting the electric-powered scooters and cycles
are nearly silent.

"If the issues are noise and pollution, electric is as noisy as an errant fluorescent
bulb," Kelly said.

Eugene police Sgt. Derel Schulz said police would have a tough time distinguishing between
gas-powered devices and the electric models, adding that many of the electric versions can
easily exceed the city's 15 mph speed limit for the bike paths.

"People here are passionate about protecting those paths for their intended use," he said.
And that use, at least for most people, translates to human-powered means of
transportation, he said.

Schulz also said using the term "motorized transportation devices" in the ordinance would
act as a catch-all as new and faster devices come onto the market.

Asked by Councilor Jennifer Solomon whether police would reach out to middle and high
schools to educate kids and parents about the ban, Schulz said those efforts are already
under way. Schulz said his research indicates the majority of motorized scooter riders are
not teenagers, but adults using the contraptions to commute.

Kelly and Councilor Bonny Bettman urged the council to provide a method to upgrade
on-street facilities for scooters and other devices affected by the ban.

"If we're going to displace scooter users from bike paths, we need to step up for
on-street facilities," Kelly said.

Council member Betty Taylor, as she has since June, urged her peers to prohibit the
devices in bike lanes as well. "We don't want people to be afraid of using the bike
lanes," she said. Her more restrictive plan did not garner support from other councilors.

The ordinance also would require retailers selling the devices to disclose the rules to
buyers.

Those regulations include a speed limit of 15 mph, riders must be 16 years old and wear a
helmet, and scooters are prohibited on sidewalks, off-street bike paths and all city park
paths.

City staff members have surveyed bike path users, including motorized scooter riders, to
determine how to approach the issue. A forum was held last month, and a public hearing on
the proposed ordinance will be held in the future to make sure University of Oregon and
Lane Community College students have a chance to comment.

Wednesday's noon work session reverberated with chants and applause from a City Hall rally
attended by an estimated 300 city workers represented by the American Federation of State,
County and Municipal Employees Local 1724.

The union, which represents about 670 city workers, and the city held their first
mediation session Wednesday afternoon. The two sides are at loggerheads over retirement
contributions, health care and cost of living adjustments.

Union officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening. City Manager Dennis
Taylor declined to comment on the rally, but said he respects the collective bargaining
process and he expects the union and city to reach an agreement.

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"BitwiseBob" - Bob Anderson
Eugene Oregon