Title
Chief Administrative Office, Parks Division, recommending the Board:
1) Accept the recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission to not allow motorized scooters to be operated on Class I trails in the unincorporated area of the County; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the letter to Neutron Holdings, Inc., dba Limebike, requesting geofencing to be implemented at the City of South Lake Tahoe/Unincorporated County boundary line to prevent this activity in the unincorporated portion of the County.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On June 25, 2019 (Legistar #19-1015) the Board of Supervisors requested that the Parks and Recreation Commission explore the feasibility of amending Chapter 10.32-Vehicle Regulations on Trail Facilities of the County ordinance code to permit motorized scooters on County trail facilities.
Motorized scooters are defined by California Vehicle Code section 407.5 as any two-wheeled device that has a motor (electric or otherwise), handlebars, and a floorboard that you can stand on while riding it. Unless prohibited by local laws, they may be driven on a bicycle path, trail, or bikeway with a driver license, but not on a sidewalk, and may not be operated at a speed higher than 15 miles per hour. In addition, riders under the age of 18 must wear a helmet. Scooters are not allowed to operate on any roadway with a speed limit greater than 25 mph, and may operate on adjacent class II & class IV bike paths, but cannot exceed 15 mph.
The Parks Commission developed an adhoc group Committee including Commissioner Arenz and Commissioner Callahan to discuss and make recommendations regarding this issue at their August 15, 2019 meeting. The two commissioners with a member of the public made a trip to South Lake Tahoe to ride the Lime scooters, which are in operation within the City of South Lake Tahoe, and researched their use with agencies. They provided information to the commission at their October 17, 2019 m...
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