Recently Nashville Metro Parks and Recreation and the Nashville Department of Transportation asked residents about their experiences with e-bikes on Metro greenways. The Nashville agencies are working with Greenways of Nashville, a local nonprofit, to bring e-bikes to Music City.
“We need your input!” the Parks and Recreation Department wrote on their Facebook page; adding, “The Metro Nashville Department of Parks and Recreation and Nashville Department of Transportation are conducting this survey regarding electric bike usage on Metro greenways. You can access the survey at http://ebikesurvey.nashville.gov. The results of this survey will help the city inform policy on the greenways.”
The Nashville Department of Transportation posted the survey on their Facebook page as well.
Similarly, Greenways for Nashville posted the survey on their Facebook page. “Your voice is important in shaping future greenway policy,” the advocacy group wrote.
In August, Metro Council passed a resolution – sponsored by Council Members Burkley Allen (Council Member At Large), Larry Hagar (District 11), Kathleen Murphy (District 24), and Emily Benedict (District 7) – to evaluate the e-bikes on greenways.
Greenways for Nashville, a local nonprofit says on its website that it “works in partnership” with Metro Parks and Recreation. The organization adds that the survey posted on Metro’s Parks and Recreation will help evaluate whether or not the bikes will be allowed on the Nashville greenways. The group stated that this evaluation will “help determine future policy” that “ensures the physical safety of all greenway users.”
A greenway is a linear space that links parks and other areas through a town, city, or country. Greenways usually consist of paths, trails, and roads that do not allow for motor vehicles.
Amy Crownover, the Executive Director of Greenways for Nashville, told NewsChannel 5 in an interview regarding the Facebook survey, that “we have to just acknowledge that e-bikes are here and they’re very useful for many people.”
“Greenways for Nashville” is a 501 (c) (3). According to the organization’s most recent filings, about 85 percent of the company’s revenue came from taxpayer money through “public support.”
Nashville Metro Parks and Recreation, the Nashville Department of Transportation, and Greenways for Nashville do not state on their respective websites whether the public money is being used for the e-bike campaign.
On the Nashville Metro Parks and Recreation’s Facebook page, where a link to the survey was posted, some were in favor of the bikes.
One user said, “We have been using e-bikes on the greenway for over 10 years. We now have a 3-year old that rides in a bike trailer attached to our e-bike. This is our most used pastime as a family and I truly hope we can keep e-bikes on the greenway. I’ve never gone faster than an actual peddling speed cyclist, they go way faster than I’m comfortable with on an e-bike.”
Other residents voiced their concerns about the electric vehicles. In particular, that electric-powered bicycles could be involved with accidents and other mishaps similar to the electric scooter program that made headlines in 2019.
Another Facebook user said that it was “not a good idea from experience working downtown for a few years seeing e-scooters. Drunk people will get on them. People will ride them on the street going the wrong way. More chances of a pedestrian getting hit.”
E-bikes have three categories; The Class 1 e-bike provides assistance only when you pedal and stops assisting when you reach 20 mph, the Class 2 e-bike is equipped with a throttle that provides a boost without pedaling and stops assisting at 20 mph, and the Class 3 e-bike is equipped with a speedometer, and only assists until the bike reaches 28 mph. E-bikes range in price from $600 up to $8,000.
Metro Parks and Recreation and Greenways for Nashville do not mention what e-bike class, or how many bikes they are looking to approve for usage on the greenway.
Currently, a moratorium is in place for any new e-bike related legislation until early January of 2022.
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Morgan Nicole Veysey is a reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow her on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Electric Bikes? Do they have cup holders for 320z Sodas?
Are these for fat people? Are people fat because they don’t peddle? Is fat killing Americans? Bikes? Sure! Electric Bikes? No way.
Metro has lost all common sense. When I was nine years old, my collar bone was broken when I was knocked down by a kid on a regular bike. So if they go ahead with this, Metro should be held liable for 100% of costs and any problems, like having to be off from work, from accidents that happen.
I had a collision with another cyclist on the greenway once. It was a normal cyclist, not having very good situational awareness. He thought it was a good idea to approach a blind corner, at top speed, using no caution what so ever. Luckily I wasn’t riding like a bat out of hades so the collision wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
If that isn’t enough, there have already been numerous incidents with criminals, predators, and perverts. Do we really need to help them assist in their getaway with legally motorized vehicles?
To allow these motorized cycles on the greenway is simply the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard of. But not surprise here. Money always wins out of the public’s safety.