FAQ

PARD has heard from electric bike users of a need to safely access certain trails to help improve mobility within the City. In addition there has been an update in dockless scooters and bikes on parkland trails since the City of Austin permitted their use on streets. A public survey conducted for the dockless pilot program on streets found that two-thirds of those surveyed say dockless is an easier and faster way to get around and that people prefer to ride on protected bike lanes or urban trails. In addition, in September 2018, the Pedestrian Advisory Council and Bicycle Advisory Council passed resolutions suggesting that a pilot project be undertaken to understand what allowing electric bikes and scooters on parkland trails might mean.

Given all of these items and the increasing use of these devices on parkland despite the ordinance that limits their use, PARD decided to implement this pilot program to fully understand the impact and what changes to ordinances might be effective to help manage these devices on parkland.

Yes, they are prohibited. Austin Code of Ordinances § 8-1-31 prohibits any “motor driven device in a public recreation area,” which includes park trails. During the Pilot Program we will also be examining the need for an ordinance change and allowing electric bikes and scooters on the following trails:

• Johnson Creek Trail
• Shoal Creek Trail South of 15^th Street
• Northern and Southern Walnut Creek Trail
• The Boardwalk (Ebikes only)
  
• Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake (Ebikes only)

Electric bikes and electric scooters will only be allowed on the following trails:

• Johnson Creek Trail
• Shoal Creek Trail (South of 15^th Street)
• Northern Walnut Creek Trail
  
• Southern Walnut Creek Trail
• Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake (Ebikes only)
• The Boardwalk (Ebikes only)
  

The City will be collecting a variety of data points and feedback including:

·  Incidents on park trails involving motorized devices causing injury by location.

·  Feedback from trail users and nonprofit partners on their comfort level with these added uses through online surveys, intercept surveys, Austin 3-1-1 comments on motorized devices on parkland and more targeted focus groups.

·  Collection of speed of all users to understand if the current 10mph speed limit is being followed and if it is appropriate.

·  Feedback on the trail etiquette education campaign to inform users on how to safely use multi-use trails.

·  Trail erosion data to understand physical impact to trails.

In addition to the data collection, Park Rangers and others will engage in an Education Plan for all users on the trails. This education element of the Pilot Program will include conversations on trail etiquette, how to respond to incidents on the trail, and an overview of the laws and recommendations on the trails. Trail users can connect with Park Rangers on the trails or through other existing programs, such as Bark Rangers, Coffee with a Ranger, or Read with a Ranger.

This temporary exception to the ordinance only allows electric bikes and electric scooters that adhere to state law definitions. All other motorized devices are still not allowed on Austin trails.

Your input is important to this project. Please complete a survey to provide feedback or comments on this SpeakUp Austin! website.

You can easily report any on-trail incidents or comments to Austin 3-1-1 by calling or submitting through the app.