Brentwood E-Bike Guidelines: New Rules for City Park Trails
Brentwood, TN, park visitors will see new e-bike safety signs this summer as the city begins its “Safely Share the Paths” campaign.
The campaign creates new guidelines for e-bikes, scooters, and other vehicles on city park trails and multi-use paths. It also reminds walkers, runners, cyclists, and pet owners to be aware of one another while using Brentwood’s parks.
The effort coincides with a new Tennessee law that gives cities more flexibility to regulate e-bikes locally. In Brentwood, the campaign guidelines include making city parks no-throttle zones and limiting vehicles on park trails and multi-use paths to 15 miles per hour.
The Brentwood City Commission has discussed e-bike safety for several months after receiving complaints about young riders speeding along trails and riding recklessly in parks.
Under the city’s new guidelines, Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed on park trails, along with e-scooters. Class 3 e-bikes are prohibited, as are ATVs, side-by-sides, golf carts, and motorcycles.
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes must stay on trails. Riding on grass in city parks is prohibited. When passing walkers or runners, e-bike riders must slow to 5 miles per hour.
New signs will be installed in Brentwood parks throughout June to alert visitors to the guidelines.
The campaign also includes reminders for shared trail use. Visitors should keep right and pass on the left, obey stop and yield signs, stay clear of the path when stopped, yield to emergency vehicles, look before entering a path, and remember that pedestrians have the right of way.
Pedestrians are asked to walk no more than two people abreast and stay aware of walkers, runners, or cyclists approaching from behind. Pet owners should keep animals on a leash up to six feet long and clean up after them.
More information about e-bikes in Brentwood, including e-bike trend observations from the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt’s Trauma Registry, is available on the City of Brentwood’s website.
