ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The back-and-forth over e-bikes in Albuquerque continues. After a petition raised concerns on proposed legislation to regulate e-bikes in Albuquerque’s open space, advocates for e-bikes are speaking out.
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Albuquerque City Council is gearing up to vote on legislation to regulate e-bikes. If passed, the bill would expand access for e-bikes and other electric motorized vehicles like scooters on unpaved trails in town. It would allow all three classes of e-bikes on the unpaved trails and add a 20-mile-per-hour speed limit on the trails.
Dean Carroll, initially an avid mountain biker, moved to e-bikes as he entered his 60s. “People think that we’re young kids and that we’re riding e-bikes because we want to go fast. The reality of it is: we’re riding e-bikes because we want to continue riding,” he said.
He noted that the average age of an e-bike rider is 48 years old, according to a 2019 study published in the Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives journal.
Carroll is now part of the New Mexico Mountain Bike/E-Bike Association and said he welcomes legislation if it’s fair.
“We’re not opposed to legislation, we just want to be instrumental and support the legislation to make sure it’s done fairly to the entire community. We recognize it’s a multi-use facility, we want the whole community to enjoy it,” said Carroll.
Critics of the proposed legislation raised concerns it was being rushed with one woman concerned that 20 miles an hour on an e-bike could still be dangerous for other trail users. She started a petition to pump the breaks on the city council bill.
“My car has a max speed of 140, that doesn’t mean I drive my car at 140. The average speed we’re going on these things is…eight to 11 miles per hour,” he said.
He said safety is just as much of a concern to e-bike riders who are often times still hikers or walkers on those same trails. “Who are just as concerned about our safety as well as everyone else’s safety. We understand the value of safety and the value of being courteous to other people in the community,” said Carroll.
The group is advocating for e-bikes saying their high sales right now help our economy and keep bike-riding accessible for different ages and abilities. City Council is expected to vote on the legislation on Monday. The New Mexico Mountain Bike/E-bike Association plans on showing up to speak at the council meeting.
If passed, it’s still unclear how the speed limit on motorized vehicles on trails would be enforced. KRQE News 13 reached out to Parks and Rec and the Albuquerque Police Department late in the afternoon and are still waiting to hear back as of air time.
