There goes the neighborhood…
Maybe.
Today I had my first sort of run in with a City Official on a trail while riding my EUC this afternoon.
This lady saw me rolling up the trail, and kinda stepped into the middle of the trail and waved me down.
I stopped, and sat down on the EUC to chat with her.
She proceeds to tell me that electric scooters are not allowed on the trails.
I had seen some blurb on Facebook by the Parks and Rec department to that effect, but could not find any actual rules…
But I expected this to happen some day.
I initially tried to be nice and said I had actually looked for rules, and could not find anything…
Which I did.
She said for years there have been lots of complaints about E-bikes and Rental scooters.
So now the only thing that is allowed is pedals assist bikes.
I did kinda start a discussion with her, and asked how come we can’t be like Arkansas, and about the people that really use trails to commute in…
She could not find the ordinance on the spot, and asked for my email which I gave her.
I was generally trying to be nice and polite, but I was also a bit defensive.
I asked about a possible forum for discussion, and she suggested I reach out to my City Council person…
I let her know how unfortunate I found the ruling to be, and limits peoples mobility, and yada yada yada.
And eventually said I was going to probably keep riding until they confiscate a few boards.
She said they will initially give a warning, but upon additional offenses you are banned.
So I may be getting banished in the future…
Even though this is a pretty progressive college town this certainly strikes me as an elitist type of approach, and I don’t expect the rules to change.
I don’t know what enforcement can look like, as there are only a couple of Park Rangers, and actual cops have too much on their plate possibly give this any priority.
So obviously I am going to keep doing what I am doing.
I do worry about signs going up, and the enablement of Karens…
I may even have a run into a Park Ranger…
It would be quite something if I in fact end up Banished…
I half expected that I may not get an email, as there May not actually be an ordinance…
But the email showed up.
It was nice meeting you today on the Grindstone Creek Trail (GCT). I appreciate you taking the time to stop and talk with me about City ordinances related to trail use. Per our discussion and at your request, the below information links to the City’s Code of Ordinances addressing the prohibited use of motor-propelled unicycles or other motor-propelled devices on City trails.
Division 9. CITY TRAILS
City Ord. Sec 17-140 - Definitions and rules of construction
City Ord. Sec. 17-141 - Trail use by cyclists; motor propelled scooters prohibited
Ord. Sec. 17-99 - Electrically-assisted pedal-powered cycle on designated trails
A full list of park and trail ordinances can be found here.
Human propulsion (pedaling or pushing) and fully operable pedals are important design features in addressing whether a device can legally be operated on the City of Columbia multi-use trails.
Please call if you’d like to discuss further (573) 441-5495.
Again, thank you for talking with me today. I appreciate your time and understanding.
Janet Godon"
I wonder if this language is clear enough to cover Esk8, Onewheels, and Electric Unicycles.
“Motor propelled scooter means any scooter, e-scooter and other small wheeled vehicle which does not rely solely on human propulsion and is equipped with an electric motor that is capable of propelling the device to a maximum speed of fifteen (15) miles per hour.”
Anyways…
Sucks.
Not the direction we want things to go right…
