Evesham council has tabled a proposed law that would prohibit the use of electric bikes at Black Run Preserve.
The measure would also disallow electric scooters or other motorized vehicles in the township’s park system, including on the trails of the Black Run Preserve in Marlton. The ordinance notes that council wants to more clearly designate the trails for non-motorized vehicles only, to preserve the environment and gaurantee the safety of trail network users.
During public comment at council’s October meeting, longtime resident John Volpa, founder and board member of the preserve, expressed concerns about the dangers to pedestrians caused by the higher-speed E-bikes and the damage their riders have caused to Black Run trails.
“(E-bike riders) have created a new network of trails, which has degraded and rutted the soil, while also cutting down trees to make those trails,” he said.
The E-bike measure would include “all trails having a natural surface tread made by clearing and grading, and no surfacing materials added.”
“We’re working with the Black Run Preserve to put up signage,” Township Manager Walt Miller explained of the ordinance at a November council session. “Part of that is to strengthen the state law that defines usage on trail locations because of the potential damage (E-bikes) could do.”
Miller said the township is still at work on a measure to address its own E-bike issues that is expected to be introduced sometime in the new year. The preserve ordinance went before council two months ago to get ahead of possible damage or accidents from the E-bikes.
Council’s December meeting included a hearing on the preserve measure and a vote to adopt it on second reading. Council eventually made a motion to table it, a move agreed to by Mayor Jackie Veasy.
” … “I think we need to revise some of the language in regards too accessibility that is used for E-bikes,” she noted.
The ordinance will be reviewed by the township and reintroduced to council at a future meeting.
