On June 18, the City Council approved a series of revisions to Flagstaff City Code to address electric bicycles and electric scooters. Among other changes, the Code revisions allow Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles on FUTS and sidewalks with two exceptions: the Nate Avery Trail and the Arizona Trail.

In conjunction with approval of the Code revisions, Council directed staff to facilitate further discussion with relevant City commissions and committees – principally the Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Bicycle Advisory Committee, and Transportation Commission – regarding two issues:

First, to review the list of excepted FUTS trails and consider deletions or additions

Second, to consider opportunities for education and signing to promote trail etiquette and reduce potential user conflicts on FUTS trails.

Discussions were conducted with a variety of commissions and committees during July, August, and September. This report summarizes the results of those meetings.

Prohibiting electric bikes from designated trails and implementing steps to promote trail etiquette will create several potential financial impacts:

Signs and pavement markings must be installed. The FUTS capital program has budgeted funds for the second phase of FUTS signing, which is intended for signing on new FUTS trails and to complete signing for the trail steward program. A portion of this funding could be used for new etiquette and prohibition signs.

There will be some ancillary costs for printing informational materials and for promoting posts on social media.

Staff time and resources are needed to manage information, education, and outreach efforts.

Enforcement will be the responsibility of the Police Department and subject to their available resources.

Addressing electric bicycles on FUTS trails helps promote sustainable transportation options.

TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE: Deliver quality community assets and continue to advocate and implement a highly performing multi-modal transportation system.

June 18, 2019: Approval of resolution and second reading of the ordinance
June 4, 2019: First reading of the ordinance
May 28, 2019: Council work session
April 30, 2019: Council work session

Allow Class 1 and 2 electric bicycles on all FUTS trails
Prohibit Class 1 and 2 electric bicycles on the Nate Avery Trail and/or the Arizona Trail

On June 18, 2019, the City Council approved revisions to City Code to address electric bicycles and electric scooters.

The revisions allow Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles on FUTS trails and sidewalks with two exceptions: the Nate Avery Trail and the Arizona Trail. The revisions also prohibit Class 3 electric bicycles on FUTS trails and sidewalks.

In conjunction with the revisions, City Council directed staff to return to relevant City commissions and committees for further discussion around two issues:

First, the Council asked for a review of prohibited FUTS trails, to consider if the Nate Avery Trail and Arizona Trail should be open or closed to Class 1 and 2 electric bicycles, and to consider if other trails should be included on the list of prohibited trails.

Second, the Council asked the commissions and committees to consider opportunities for signing and education to promote trail etiquette and courtesy

During July, August, and September, a discussion was conducted at the Transportation Commission, Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Bicycle Advisory Committee, Commission on Inclusion and Adaptive Living, Sustainability Commission, Open Spaces Commission, and FMPO/NAIPTA Coordinated Mobility Council.

Following discussion at their respective meetings, the Transportation Commission, PAC, and BAC conducted straw polls regarding the first question with the following results:

Transportation Commission

Allow e-bikes on the Nate Avery Trail: 2-3 (fails)
Allow e-bikes on the Arizona Trail: 4-1
Allow e-bikes on other FUTS: 4-1

Pedestrian Advisory Committee

Allow e-bikes on the Nate Avery Trail: 3-0-1
Allow e-bikes on the Arizona Trail: 3-0-1
Allow e-bikes on other FUTS: 3-0-1

Bicycle Advisory Committee

Allow e-bikes on the Nate Avery Trail: 4-3
Allow e-bikes on the Arizona Trail: 4-3
Allow e-bikes on other FUTS: 6-1

The panels provided a variety of reasons for their votes:

• Class 1 and 2 electric bicycles should be treated the same as pedal bicycles
• Provides consistency for messaging and enforcement and avoids confusion
• Electric bicycles can help promote bicycle use and reduce automobile use
• Electric bicycles provide a more accessible transportation option for people with mobility limitations
• The City should endeavor to better accommodate e-bikes and other devices in the planning and design of multi-modal facilities

Discussion around the questions was also conducted at the other commissions’ meetings; however straw polls were generally not conducted.

The commissions also discussed information and education for trail etiquette. A summary of the discussion and recommendations is included in the attached presentation and will be provided at the meeting.

These actions will help clarify where electric bicycles are allowed or prohibited, and which classes are allowed or prohibited. In general, this discussion will promote bicycling as a sustainable transportation option.

Over the past year, the question of electric bicycles has been discussed extensively at a number of City commissions and committees:

Transportation Commission

August 7, 2019
May 1, 2019
April 3, 2019
February 6, 2019
December 5, 2018

Pedestrian Advisory Committee

September 12, 2019
August 8, 2019
May 9, 2019
March 14, 2019
February 14, 2019
December 13, 2018

Bicycle Advisory Committee

September 5, 2019
August 1, 2019
July 11, 2019
June 6, 2019
May 2, 2019
April 4, 2019
March 7, 2019
February 7, 2019
December 6, 2019

Commission on Inclusion and Adaptive Living

August 27, 2019
June 25, 2019
May 28, 2019

Open Spaces Commission

September 23, 2019
July 15, 2019
June 3, 2019

Sustainability Commission

August 22, 2019
July 25, 2019
March 26, 2019

FMPO/NAIPTA Coordinated Mobility Council

August 16, 2019
May 10, 2019