Snowmass ‘to hope for the best’ with new e-bike ordinance approval

Snowmass Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday temporarily allowing Class 1 e-bike use on specific trails on the west side of the Snowmass ski hill.

This was the second reading of the e-bike ordinance.

The trial period for what Council Member Cecily DeAngelo termed an “e-bike park” will run from June 21 through Sept. 6.

“I think part of what will help this be really successful is to call this an e-bike park, so that it is highly defined to this area,” DeAngelo said. “In people’s minds, they understand what this means … When we communicate this to the newspapers, to the community, to the riders, to the visitors, it is an e-bike park. I really think that will define what we are exploring.”

E-bikes will be allowed on 7.9 miles of trail on Snowmass, including 2.4 miles uphill on Discovery, 1.9 miles of downhill on Village Bound, 0.9 miles downhill on Luge, 0.5 miles downhill on Fanny Hill and 1.1 multi-directional on both Thornton Road and Dawdler Road, as outlined by the Snowmass Mountain E-Bike Management Plan.

“We’re going to hope for the best,” Mayor Alyssa Shenk said.

Council all agreed that the implementation of the trial must include clear signage, both for trails where e-bikes will be permitted within the temporary e-bike park and for trails where e-bikes are prohibited.

“It’s really vital during this experimental phase we’re clear,” Council Member Britta Gustafson said. “Communication is key and signage is key. Snowmass is not just opening up access to all e-bikes.”

Council Member Tom Fridstein also emphasized the importance of making that extra effort.

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“It’s definitely on us to be able to make sure it’s really clear,” Shenk agreed.

She did highlight the challenge of sharing a trail between bikes and dogs, noting, “which is why I don’t go on the Tom Blake (Trail) anymore.”

The trial period for the e-bike park and designated e-bike trails will include interim check-ins and reports.