Des Moines metro leaders debate who should lead e-bike changes
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
An e-moto in Alameda, California. Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
A Pleasant Hill City Council member is calling on the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to bring stakeholders together to create a model metro-wide e-bike ordinance, though other metro leaders argue that would be unnecessary.
Why it matters: The Des Moines metro is praised for its vast continuous trail system, but a patchwork of local ordinances could leave riders confused about what rules apply as they cross city lines.
- "If they're all disjointed, I think it's going to be a mess, because you can literally pit one community against another," Pleasant Hill City Councilman Len Murray tells Axios.
The big picture: Cities across the metro are wrestling with how to regulate a surge of children and teens on high-powered electric scooters and electric motorcycles.
- These devices can travel 30 mph to 40 mph and are already regulated under state law, though enforcement is thin.
Driving the news: During an MPO meeting last week, elected officials across several cities disagreed over the organization's role following Murray's proposal.
- The MPO was built to coordinate regional transportation across the metro, but local officials in the last two years scaled back the organization after arguing it had strayed beyond its core mission of planning transportation projects and directing federal funding. The reset came alongside new executive leadership.
- On Thursday, an MPO committee will take up the e-moto question and weigh in on whether the organization should expand its role.
Flashback: Metro police chiefs have taken the lead in bringing a model ordinance to their individual city councils, but it's encountered friction, and initial proposals have differed from each other.
State of play: Murray, who retired from the Des Moines Police Department, says the MPO is best suited to help create an ordinance, and he wants to bring together law enforcement, cycling groups, conservation agencies and public health officials.
- "This is exactly why the MPO exists," he says.
The other side: Other metro leaders say the MPO should not take the lead, noting that Polk County Law Enforcement Executives Association has already talked with stakeholders and created an adaptable template for cities.
- "It's not somebody else's job, it's your job," Altoona Mayor Dean O'Connor told Murray at the meeting.
- O'Connor tells Axios it will take years to try to pass a uniform ordinance. He says cities already have different policies, including for backyard chickens and fireworks. Meanwhile, ordinances should not be the role of the MPO, he says.
- "You're just not going to get together and make one ordinance that we all love," he says.
Zoom out: Everyone agrees there are major safety concerns involving the devices, but there are variations on how and who should be handling policies, as well as their effectiveness.
- Des Moines City Councilman Joe Gatto mentioned that drones could be helpful to enforce speed limits during the meeting.
- O'Connor says Altoona plans to consider its own ordinance that would involve more "bite" than the ones introduced so far, including taking away e-motos and requiring classes to get them back.
- Murray wants everyone to have uniform rules and to consider positive reinforcement before penalizing people.
If you go: The policy meeting is from 4-5pm Thursday at the MPO office. A Zoom link is available upon request.