The following letter has been sent to the elected council members of the Town of Corte Madera and the City of Larkspur, regarding the Marin Parks and Open Space District's consideration of allowing electric bicycles -- "e-bikes" -- in our open space.
Hello Councils of Corte Madera and Larkspur,
Marin County Parks and Open Space is now hosting a July 19 workshop ---doubling as a promotion-- for allowing e-bikes on our multi use paths. (See “Parks Offers Chance To Ride An E-bike" on the Marin County website).
With all the past accidents and near misses on the Sausalito to Mill Valley MUP---involving speeding cyclists clipping slow-moving pedestrians---this policy initiative to allow e-bikes on the MUPs is sure to be fraught with controversy. (See “Accidents & Animosity On The Multi-Use Paths”).
My take is this: If an accident problem already exists, why would MCOSD want to exacerbate it by allowing e-bikes---which travel at faster speeds than pedal-powered bikes ---to take over the MUPs at the expense of quieter, gentler users (i.e., pedestrians, dog walkers and the elderly with limited mobility)?
Should our Foot People on the MUPs get disenfranchised to favor the wants of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, the county’s most powerful special interest group?
E-bikes can travel as fast as cars within town and city limits. And that’s where e-bikes belong: on the roads. NOT on the MUPs.