Three changes have been proposed to Eugene’s bicycle and skateboarding laws, affecting bicyclists, skaters, drivers, pedestrians, business owners, officers and more.

On Monday, Nov. 18, Eugene’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee presented the proposed laws and discussed the changes with local residents at an open house. The crowd was split with one side opposing and one side favoring. There were avid bicyclists, skateboarders, drivers and pedestrians of all ages with something to say.

The first proposed change will allow electric assisted bicycles to ride on off-street paths. The second will allow skateboarders to ride on city streets. The third will expand the downtown bicycle and skateboard “no sidewalk riding zone.”

These laws are aimed toward improving Eugene, including public safety, transportation and eventually doubling the amount of non-vehicular travel. Each of these improvements will support Eugene’s mission to become a well-known environmentally conscious city.

But while public safety is the committee’s goal, it is also a concerning argument opposing some of the proposed laws. Reed Dunbar, associate transportation planner for the City of Eugene said people might oppose the electric bike law because they are concerned with pedestrian safety. But this is due to the misconceptions of what an electric bike is.

Dunbar brought his electric bike to the open house to show everyone how safe it is. It looked just like a regular bike, but with a small device on one of the handlebars to show your speed. The motor is only activated when you are pedaling and stops when you press on the brake. Dunbar said he has tried to get his to go faster than 20 mph, but was unable to get past 19. The motor can be recharged electronically, so it is also environmentally sustainable.

“The goal in Eugene is to double the amount of bicycle trips made, as opposed to using a car. Currently it’s at 8 1/2, which is gold-level. We want to double that to get to platinum level. But that’s not going to happen if we exclude certain types of bikes,” Dunbar said.

These bikes are used to take some of the strain off the rider. If they have the extra boost of the motor, they will be able to take longer trips more frequently, which is in the best interest of Eugene’s long-term goal. Non-electric bicycles are already allowed to ride on these paths, so why not electric bikes too?

As Dunbar puts it, the issue is behavioral, not device-based, which can reasonably be argued for any mode of transportation.

The skateboarding law is similar in the arguments from each side. Those who are opposing the law are concerned with the safety of others on the road. Skateboarders are notoriously known for testing their limits, but those at the open house argued that there’s a difference between recreational skating and skating as transportation. They love doing tricks in designated areas, but they assured everyone that they value their right to use skating as a mode of transportation, and therefore, are always traveling safely and following the law.

“We should have the same rights as bicyclists because skating involves the same amount of control,” said Matt Clark, an 18-year-old skateboarder. His friend Tanner Murphy, also argued that this law would bring more tourists to Eugene, especially with the new skate park opening up soon at Washington-Jefferson Park.

Like those in favor of the electric bike law, they said any safety issues are directly related to the rider, not the mode of transportation. If the law is passed, skateboarders will be subject to current traffic laws.

There are many zones in Eugene that do not allow skateboarding on sidewalks or streets, which is unfair to those who rely on skateboarding as their main mode of transportation. This law will make things easier for them and will continue to decrease the use of cars.

The proposed expansion of the “no sidewalk riding zones” is purely motivated by pedestrian safety concerns, and will focus on downtown areas with high foot traffic, and low car traffic. This law collaborates with the others in making it much easier and safer for bicyclists, skateboarders and pedestrians, and therefore making room for Eugene to eventually meet its goal in doubling the amount of environmentally friendly transportation.