The City of Albuquerque’s new e-bike ordinance has officially become law.
According to a press release, the new law allows operation of all classes of e-bikes on paved multiuse trails and open space trails, except where an underlying landowner of a city trail has not approved e-bike use and/or where the Parks & Recreation Department has closed trails to e-bikes.
“We want everyone to ride safely while respecting all trail users,” said Dave Simon, director of the Parks & Recreation Department (PRD).
CABQ open space lands include the Aldo Leopold Forest, Boca Negra Canyon, Elena Gallegos Open Space, Montessa Park, Open Space Farmlands, Paseo de la Mesa Trail, Paseo del Bosque Trail, Petroglyph National Monument, the Tijeras Bio-Zone and others.
Effective immediately, PRD is implementing the new law for paved, multiuse trails and open space trails.
However, the East Mountain Open Space — Carolino Canyon, Juan Tomas Open Space, Tres Pistolas, John A. Milne & Gutierrez Canyon Open Space, and San Antonito Open Space — currently has all unpaved trails temporarily closed to e-bikes pending further technical evaluation, public input and installation of signage.
All city-managed paved, multiuse trails that are not on Open Space are open to e-bikes of all classes. This includes the following paved trails: North Diversion Channel, I-40, Paseo de las Montañas, Hahn Arroyo and other paved trails on the City’s multiuse trail network.
Open Space trails:
- Foothills Open Space: A limited number of Foothills trails are open to e-bikes on an experimental basis to evaluate e-bike use and management issues. Other open space trails in the Foothills are temporarily closed pending further technical evaluation for potential e-bike use, public input, and installation of thorough signage. Since the U.S. Forest Service does not allow e-bikes, Open Space trails that cross onto USFS land are among those Foothills trails closed to e-bikes. Trails open and closed to e-bikes can be seen at www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/recreation/bike/e-bikes.
- Bosque Open Space: Both paved and unpaved Open Space trails in the Bosque on lands owned by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) are currently closed to e-bikes per the city ordinance and because MRGCD also requires a public engagement process regarding proposed e-bike use. The city and MRGCD will collaborate on these decisions, but the public input process is still being determined. In the meantime, the city has made a written request to MRGCD to immediately approve e-bike use on two paved, multiuse trails in open space owned by MRGCD where the city and MRGCD have shared jurisdiction (Paseo del Bosque, Alameda Drain/Second Street trails) and has asked MRGCD to act on the city’s request as soon as possible.
- West Mesa Open Space: The hard-surface Paseo de la Mesa Trail is open to e-bikes. Other unpaved trails on the West Mesa are temporarily closed to e-bikes pending further technical evaluation, public input, and installation of signage.
In order to address the evolving technology and expanding use of smaller electronic-powered devices, the new law also defines powered micromobility devices (e-scooters, one-wheels and e-skateboards), and limits them to paved trails only, and subjects them to trail speed limits.
The maximum speed for all bicycles (analog and e-bikes) on all trails is 20 mph, unless a lower speed is posted. All unpaved trails on Open Space that are now open to e-bikes, or may be in the future, will have a maximum 15 mph speed limit, or lower in some areas, as posted.
As part of the implementation strategy, PRD will evaluate existing trail use, width, and technicality to determine which trails will be proposed for e-bike use in the future.
The City of Albuquerque said education is the most important factor of trail use/etiquette, trail safety and compliance with the new law.
“PRD is planning a robust public education effort regarding appropriate trail use, which would be implemented with community partners,” according to the release. “PRD is also working to install trail signage, which will include lowering the speed limit in certain areas, such as near trailheads and in congested areas. These changes will also be reflected in the city’s online map.”
PRD is also looking at both existing approaches and new technologies to monitor and inform riders about their speed in order to encourage compliance and safe trail use.
Albuquerque Police Department would issue any citations for violations of the Traffic Code.