City Council Agenda and Packet 2024 08 27 - SP

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112 City of Om Louisville COLORADO - SINCE 1878 Traffic Safety: Bicycles and E-Bikes Update August 27, 2024 In response to questions relayed to staff during a previously held special meeting in May 2024, related to traffic safety and bicycles/ E-bikes, the follow up and action item responses are below: Accident Report Data on age or injury: 1485 traffic accidents that occurred between May 2019 and May 2024 were reviewed. Of the 1485 accidents 41 (2.7%) accidents involved a bicycle and 26 (1.7%) accidents involved a pedestrian. Of those accidents 18 bicyclists were under the age of 18 and 3 pedestrians were under the age of 18. Five of the bicyclists sustained serious bodily injury (1 under the age of 18) and there were no fatalities. Six pedestrians sustained serious bodily injury (1 under the age of 18) and there were two fatalities involving pedestrians (none involving people under age 18). Seek feedback from other cities about ordinances/approach/licensing/code language: Neighboring police jurisdictions were contacted and asked about E-bike specific municipal ordinances or codes. These cities included Broomfield, Boulder, Erie, and Lafayette. As is done in Louisville, most of these jurisdictions primarily utilize the state model traffic code for how they address E-bikes and bicycles in general. Boulder and Lafayette have some additional provisions in their code that relate to dismount zones and speed limits (with signage) on their paths and trails. In our region we found no additional requirements for helmets or licensing outside of what the state traffic code requires. We also reached out to agencies outside of our region and found Steamboat Springs does have a helmet requirement for anyone 15 years of age or younger operating or riding on a bicycle or E- bike. Enforcement contact/citation process for juveniles: The police department process already includes notification of parent/guardian when a juvenile is issued a summons for a violation. In the event a verbal warning or educational contact is initiated we are, at minimum, required to provide the person with the officer's business card. This process would continue to be followed during a verbal warning or educational contact with adding a request to have the parent or guardian contact the officer. In addition, we do have the capability of issuing a formal written warning to the juvenile operating the bicycle/ E-bike and can require follow up on the parent's part. As mentioned in the special meeting, priority will be made on education rather than the issuance of a citation in most cases. Community Outreach to Rider groups: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space have several initiatives already in place. Over the summer, the Rangers completed a total of 13 Trail Etiquette Booths and provided educational materials and stickers to nearly 500 community members. Booths were located near school zones and high volume user areas. Rangers and the Police Department Crime Prevention Specialist, together with local Girl Scouts attended the Touch -a -truck event to support the Girl Scout's bike safety peer contract and provide Trail Etiquette Campaign and E-Bike safety educational materials. The Rangers and PD also participated in the Bike to Work Day event and provided the same safety material. Local bicycle vendors continue to support the City's bicycle and E-bike safety campaign and received Trail Etiquette materials to distribute to their customers. More materials can be provided as needed. E-bike of Colorado and Louisville Cyclery received E-bike bookmarks (with trail etiquette tips), the E-biker "I share the trail" stickers, and other informational items. They will include those items with the information they provide with each E-bike they sell and have placed these items for customers near the front of the business. Customers have already provided positive feedback about the materials. 992 Via Appia Way Louisville, CO 80027 1303-666-8634 I www.louisvilleco.gov/police 12