Traffic on multiuse paths may soon be speeding up as county supervisors consider authorizing expanded use of electric bikes.
On Tuesday, the supervisors will discuss permitting the use of electric-assisted bicycles on the county’s multiuse paths, on public roads and in parking lots within county parks.
This would include such popular multiuse paths as the Mill Valley/Sausalito path, the Corte Madera Creek path and the Pacheco path. The rule change would not affect the prohibition on e-bike use on Marin County Open Space District land.
“We want to accommodate changes in transportation and to help get people out of cars,” said Max Korten, director of Marin County Parks. “This can help alleviate road congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase opportunities for exercise.”
Tom Boss, off-road director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, said, “We definitely support the use of e-bikes to, we like to say, flatten hilly Marin. They enable more people, especially Marin’s aging population, to get out of cars.”
Linda Novy, president of the Marin Conservation League board of directors, wrote in an email, “Basically, MCL is supportive of e-bikes on paved roads, and has a policy describing that. However, the policy is conditional, if safety conditions are not observed and enforced, then we withdraw our support.”
“Currently,” Novy wrote, “many bike riders, regardless if they are e-bikes or non-e-bikes, are riding above the speed limit and creating unsafe conditions for others.”
The electric bicycle policy adopted by the MCL board in July states, “As well-documented, the 15 mph speed limit on most of Marin’s pathways is often violated. Experienced road bikers are capable of 20 mph and greater speeds. Enforcement varies and citations are few.”
The code change that will be considered by supervisors on Tuesday differentiates between types of electric bicycles. The state of California’s vehicle code divides e-bikes into three classes.
Class 1 electric bikes must be pedaled before receiving assistance from an electric motor and have a maximum speed of 20 mph. Class 2 bikes also have a maximum speed of 20 mph but do not require the rider to pedal. Class 3 bikes require the rider to pedal but have a maximum speed of 28 mph.
Under the proposed changes, class 1 and class 2 electric bikes would be permitted on county paved bicycle and multiuse paths, on public roads and parking lots within Marin County Parks facilities, and in other areas specifically signed to permit them. Class 3 electric bikes would be allowed within parks only on public roads or in parking lots or other areas signed specifically to permit them.
The contemplated ordinance would limit speeds to 15 mph with the exception of one heavily used stretch of the Mill Valley/Sausalito multiuse path near the Redwoods senior community and Tamalpais High School, where the speed limit will be 10 mph.
At the meeting on Tuesday, supervisors will conduct a first reading of an ordinance that would change county code to allow the expanded use of e-bikes. A public hearing on the proposed change and a second and final vote on the ordinance by supervisors is scheduled for Sept. 24. The board meets beginning at 9 a.m. in Suite 330 at the Marin County Civic Center at 3501 Civic Center Drive in San Rafael.