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E-bikes on the trail
We must challenge the premise and accuracy of the Sunday editorial arguing for the legalization of e-bike use on TOPS open space trails.
I have been involved with the TOPS program since the first TOPS open space acquisition in 1998, and I strongly believe that TOPS is the best thing the city has done for itself in the past half century. I also believe that TOPS framers were right to emphasize “passive” recreation on TOPS lands and to specifically prohibit “motorized” use of these lands in the voter-approved TOPS ordinance.
The editorial’s authors argue that e-bikes should be allowed on TOPS grounds as a matter of “fairness” to older users. I’m in that age group, and my encounters with (illegal) e-bike use on the TOPS trails over the past few years have painted a very different picture: the riders are much younger overall, and many of them are clearly following the advice they’ve seen in recent e-bike advertisements: “Go harder, faster, farther.”
Maybe we older folks are just more law-abiding. Also keep in mind that this isn’t just an issue with e-bikes, there are also e-scooters and e-skateboards that you have to jump off the road to avoid.
The editorial incorrectly claims that Boulder (home to the Front Range’s best open space program) allows e-bikes on its open space trails. This is largely untrue. As The Gazette’s Seth Boster reported, Boulder (city and county) allows e-bikes on a limited number of level (plain) trails, but not on foothill trails. The same is true in Fort Collins/Larimer County, and Summit County to the west. So let’s follow Boulder’s model.
Kent Obie
Colorado Springs
Speed is the problem
Susan Davis, I love you, but I disagree with you on this one. Just this morning I was mountain biking up the Santa Fe Trail near the Air Force Academy at about 6 mph when an e-bike came along going 20-25 mph. It’s gravel. It has sharp corners. (Wouldn’t it be rude to hope he gets into an accident?) (Looking at this rider, he should get a real bike and lose about 80 pounds.)
The problem with e-bikes on trails is exactly that: speed. They go too fast. If they could somehow be manufactured to be limited to around 9 mph that would change things. But people like the thrill of speed. They should be on roads, not trails. E-bikes are too fast for other cyclists and pedestrians. No e-bikes on trails.
John Bender
Monuments
The problem is proper usage
Regarding the Sunday editorial “Legal e-bikes on trails will increase fairness”
As the Gazette points out, e-bikes are a great form of transportation, but they also contain some misleading descriptions.
First, it says, “Unfortunately, most e-bikes on trails are operated illegally.” In fact, most e-bikes are ridden on urban commuter trails, local or state park trails, and are almost always legal, spanning many miles.
Second, according to the Boulder County website, “all e-bikes are prohibited on hill country trails.”
This issue is not about taxpayers, it is about proper use.
The open space single track trails purchased by TOPS were designed with hikers, cyclists and horse riders in mind, and for many years these trails have been well-used without motorized traffic.
If The Gazette and the Trails and Open Space Coalition really cared about us old but avid e-bike riders, they would advocate for cleaner, safer urban trails and bike lanes that connect parks, libraries, schools, stores, trailheads to neighborhoods — and e-bike-friendly bike racks so we can easily lock up our bikes when we get to our destination.
Charlie Patterson
Colorado Springs
A highly polarizing role
Those of you who still think Dave Williams is a great choice to represent us in Washington, you need to know what to expect. I went to the state capitol in Pueblo in April. I had never been to a state capitol before. I had seen the capitol building with the picture of lawmakers gathered around a sign with the state’s name on it, voting. It was interesting to see and made me want to be involved in the local process.
Here, each county had a sign. El Paso filled the whole center section. First, they discussed how things should be run and other administrative matters. Then, there were speeches to wake people up. Williams was supposed to be a neutral leader of the council. But when the vote on the resolutions started, Williams’ attitude changed. Suddenly, I felt like I was watching a cult leader inciting his followers to vote how he wanted them to. And they did. It was actually a little scary. I could see why he didn’t want the press there. The more I watched him, the more I felt like I didn’t want to be around him.
Over the past year, I’ve watched him change the rules of his central committee to get his way, including a closed primary (which voters had previously rejected), endorsing former President Donald Trump (he was asked to remain neutral until after the primary), and other things I won’t go into detail about here.
He is refusing to step down as Speaker. Williams does not listen to his constituents, much less serve them. Dave serves Dave. I’ll warn you, don’t drink his Kool-Aid out of that glamorous gold goblet. It’s made of paper and will melt quickly.
Please understand that these are my personal opinions and everyone is entitled to theirs. Williams has played a very divisive role within our party here in Colorado and I hope he never gets the opportunity to bring his destructive skills to Congress.
Billy Negro
Colorado Springs
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