Title
An ordinance amending Chapter 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to motor vehicles and providing penalties for the violation thereof
(Legislative)
Presenter:
Ryan Tefertiller, Planning Manager, Planning and Community Development Department
Todd Frisbie, City Traffic Engineer, Public Works Department
Body
Summary:
The City of Colorado Springs does not currently permit operation of an electric scooter share business. The proposed updates to Chapter 10 will establish clear definitions for new types of mobility devices and clarify where different types of devices may operate; these changes also contain numerous provisions that establish consistency between City Code and State Statutes across the Traffic Code. Concurrent companion ordinances and administrative regulations will establish a permitting program to allow up to three (3) scooter sharing companies to operate locally and establish standards for the use, storage, and enforcement of shared electric scooters.
Background:
Over the last five years shared electric scooters have become very popular in many American urban centers. While the City of Colorado Springs adopted regulations to allow bicycle sharing businesses in May of 2018, no provisions currently exist for other types of mobility devices, including electric scooters. In response to stakeholder interest and the benefits that micro-mobility could bring to the City’s core, Planning, Public Works, and City Attorney’s Office Staff have drafted Code provisions and administrative regulations to permit up to three electric scooter share companies to operate up to 1,200 (total) electric scooters within the City. Provisions have also been drafted to clarify where electric scooters and other mobility devices may operate.
Micro-mobility is a significant issue in urban environments. Devices including bicycles, scooters, and Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices (EPAMDs) can help people move about high density areas without having to rely on automobiles. While pedestrian travel is appropriate for short trips (generally less than 10 minutes walking), solutions are needed for trips ranging from a few blocks to a few miles. Personal and shared bicycles and scooters are popular modes of transportation in many areas for these types of trips.
Concurrent to the proposed code and regulations specific to electric scooter sharing companies, a number of changes to Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic, have been brought forward.
These updates are intended to make local definitions and requirements consistent with State statutes. While definitions and regulations of electric scooters are noteworthy, the new Code provisions also include new definitions for bike infrastructure types, electrical assisted bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility device (EPAMD), electric scooters, low-power electric scooters, and toy vehicles. The new code also provides revised and expanded definitions for motorcycles, school buses, roadways, stopping, trailers, and vehicles. These changes are necessary to align the City Code with State statutes regulating traffic and vehicles and provide for uniformity and consistency in application and enforcement.
Chapter 10 updates also include revisions to language on the regulation of the use of city right-of-way to be consistent with the new, modified, and expanded definitions. Notable additions and changes are:
• Drivers of vehicles shall yield the right-of-way to the authorized users of bikes lanes
• No stopping, standing, or parking within a bike lane.
• Exceptions to restrictions to no stopping, standing, or parking in specified places
• Revisions of the traffic laws applying to bicycle riders to include electric scooters, and other human-powered vehicles.
• Revisions to riding on sidewalks to include electrical assisted bicycles, electric scooters, and EPAMDs
• Equipment to bicycles, electrical assisted bicycles, electric scooters, and personal mobility devices shall conform to article 4 of title 42, Colorado Revised Statues and §42-4-221.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Financial Implications:
N/A
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
Planning Staff have had multiple discussions with local stakeholders as well as national electric scooter share companies. Where possible, stakeholder concerns have been included within the draft documents. Final drafts of the proposed ordinances and the administrative regulations were distributed to stakeholders for their consideration in mid-September. Additional discussions are on-going with opportunity for comments or concerns to City Council at the time of adoption.
Alternatives:
1. Approve the ordinances as presented;
2. Modify the ordinances;
3. Deny the ordinances; or
4. Refer the ordinances back to Staff for further consideration
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to motor vehicles and providing penalties for the violation thereof.
Summary of Ordinance Language
An ordinance amending Chapter 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to motor vehicles and providing penalties for the violation thereof