Albuquerque city council approves e-bike, scooter ordinances
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Traffic could be increasing on trails in Albuquerque’s Open Spaces after city council voted to approve a new city ordinance legalizing e-bikes.
At Monday’s city council meeting, residents gave mixed feedback on the ordinance. Some said e-bikes will expand accessibility of the trails, others said it could cause injuries and trail deterioration. The bill sets a 20 mph speed limit, but allows the parks and recreation department to lower that limit on any open space trail if needed. The ordinance passed on an eight to one vote.
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Residents can also expect to see electric scooters returning to the community. The newly passed ordinance lowers fees for scooter and bike-share companies, making it easier for them to establish themselves in the city.
One major e-scooter provider, Lime, showed their support saying they are ready to bring an economic boost to the city. The bill requires companies to place 20% of their units in socially vulnerable areas. It also requires they operate with no more than 1,000 scooters and create a get-fenced area they must stay within. The ordinance passed on an eight to zero vote.
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